14 DAY TRIAL // The FCC is still working on a solution to solve the net neutrality issue. In fact, they’re currently reviewing several legal methods about enforcing the open Internet rules.
“Our public comment period ended on Monday . . . with more than 3.7 million comments and reply comments submitted by a public that is passionate about this issue. Many of these comments focused on potentially harmful effects of paid prioritization on innovation and free expression, among other values,” the FCC’s Julie Veach said in a blog post.
She explains that there have been two sessions of discussions in the Open Internet Roundtable, while Chairman Wheeler also testified before Congress to explain all the options before the FCC and that Title II is very much on the table.
Title II, which involves reclassifying ISPs as common carriers, effectively giving the FCC enough room to enforce net neutrality. This would involve some paperwork from the FCC, but it is considered to be the best option out there.
“Chairman Wheeler emphasized that the Commission is looking for a rainbow of policy and legal proposals, rather than being confined to what he called limited “monochromatic” options,” she adds.
Exactly what this “rainbow” entails is unknown, but at the very least they seem to be trying to come up with a solution to fix the issue.
Title II is still on the table
The FCC admits that commenters have suggested that Section 706 could be used. For instance, they say, AOL supports reclassification under Title II with substantive rules promulgated under Section 706. On the other hand, AT&T has suggested paid prioritization could be banned under Section 706.
Sunlight Foundation has gone through a portion of the 3.7 million comments received by the FCC and said that about two thirds mentioned Title II. Mozilla Foundation, for instance, suggested that Title II could be used to create a presumption that all paid prioritization arrangements are unlawful. This would put a stop to deals such as the ones Netflix has been bullied into earlier this year.
What it all boils down to, however, is the fact that the FCC has not made up its mind yet. It seems, however, that the idea of allowing ISPs to create fast lanes is finally off the table, which is the best we can hope for at this point.
If ISPs were allowed to charge companies for these so-called fast lanes, they’d get too much control over what sites people visit. Internet Slowdown Day had sites, including Softpedia, sport an ever-loading wheel that indicates what could happen if net neutrality were killed.