Comcast to customers: Just trust us about changed net neutrality pledges

Comcast is defending its changed net neutrality pledges in the face of criticism from Internet users. The deletion of a net neutrality promise immediately after the Federal Communications Commission started repealing its net neutrality rules is just a "language" change, the company says. Comcast is telling customers that it still has no plans to institute paid prioritization—while avoiding a promise that it won't do so in the future. Comcast spokesperson Sena Fitzmaurice said, "Part of the filings we did this year about paid prioritization is that there have been some things in the marketplace that have come out and been pro-consumer. Some people call it 'zero ratings.' Some people call it paid prioritization, like T-Mobile's Binge On plan. A lot were up in arms about it but a lot of consumers seemed to like it."  Paid prioritization would involve a website or online application provider paying an ISP like Comcast for faster access to Internet users and is banned outright by the current net neutrality rules. Zero-rating is the exemption of certain Internet content from data caps. This isn't banned by the net neutrality rules, but it could fall afoul of the FCC's "general conduct rule" if it is implemented in a way that harms consumers or competitors.