The FCC’s Open Internet Rules – Stronger than You Think

Federal Communications Commission members Michael Copps and Mignon Clyburn were able to strengthen the network neutrality rules proposed by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.

In particular, the text of the order:

• sets out important principles that will guide the commission’s interpretation of the non-discrimination rule and the reasonable network management exception;
• explicitly bans network providers from charging application and content providers for access to the network providers’ Internet service customers;
• stops just short of an explicit ban on charging application and content providers for prioritized or otherwise enhanced access to these customers (this second practice is often called “paid prioritization”); and
• keeps alive the threat of regulation with respect to the mobile Internet.