FCC Commissioners eye strong ‘fast lane’ rules

Federal Communications Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel spoke at a hearing, hosted by Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA), in Sacramento (CA) and seemed to push for rules prohibiting companies from meddling with people's service on their computers or mobile devices.

“I believe the FCC must find a way to put open Internet policies back in place because we cannot have a two-tiered Internet with fast lanes that speed the traffic of the privileged and leave the rest of us lagging behind,” Commissioner Rosenworcel said, referring to the official name for rules on net neutrality -- the idea that Web providers like Comcast should treat all Internet traffic equally. Commissioner Rosenworcel said that the FCC should hold field hearings on network neutrality featuring all the commissioners and held outside Washington (DC).

Commissioner Mignon indicates that the new Internet rules should also apply to smartphones and tablets operating wirelessly, a change from the FCC’s previous rules.