Some Diversity Groups Diverge Over Net Neutrality

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Over three dozen diversity groups have told the Federal Communications Commission that the current proposal to use Section 706 authority to restore network neutrality rules is the way to go, while a handful of groups calling themselves the "new generation of civil rights leaders" appears just as convinced that the FCC needs to reclassify Internet service providers under Title II common carrier rules to close the digital divide.

The Minority Media & Telecommunications Council and its coalition partners say Sec. 706 would be a sufficiently robust and legally enforceable means for achieving their goals for communities of color, which is to prevent digital redlining and insure them "first-class digital citizenship." The coalition said a big advantage of Sec. 706 is that it will "will maintain a critical baseline level of regulatory certainty by preserving the current, bipartisan approach to regulating broadband communications..." By contrast, they argue, reclassifying broadband under Title II would introduce "unnecessary uncertainty" into the process and by discouraging investment and undermining adoption.

In the other corner are National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC), ColorOfChange.org, 18MillionRising.org, joined by long-time Title II fans Free Press and the Voices For Internet Freedom. They argue that Sec. 706 would "destroy" the Internet as we know it and that Title II is the only way to prevent ISP's from "blocking and discriminating against content, exacerbating the digital divide.


Some Diversity Groups Diverge Over Net Neutrality