WASHINGTON (AP) — Net neutrality has come and gone. But what does it mean for you, now that the Federal Communications Commission has scuttled the Obama-era rules that put limits on internet companies’ treatment of online traffic?
The short answer for now: not much. But it’s what’s projected to happen down the road that is of greatest concern.
Imagine, for example, if you use Netflix as your go-to choice for streaming movies — but your broadband or wireless company has a similar service it wants to steer you to. There would be nothing legally preventing your internet provider slowing down or limiting your access to Netflix — even as it touts its own video service. It’s that ability to throttle down competing services that has so many people worried about what the end of net neutrality might mean.
For some in Washington the fight in support of net neutrality continues — despite yesterday’s move by the Federal Communications Commission to do away with it. And the battle will be waged both in Congress and in the courts.
Pennsylvania congressman Mike Doyle, a Democrat, says he will introduce legislation to overturn the FCC’s action — and restore the old net neutrality rules. But the effort is expected to falter, since Republicans control both houses of Congress.
Meanwhile public-interest groups like Free Press and Public Knowledge say they’ll take the matter to court. New York’s attorney general promises to launch a multi-state lawsuit to restore net neutrality. And the attorneys general of Massachusetts and Washington state have announced plans to sue the government over the FCC’s decision.
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