US: Apple, Comcast may bypass net neutrality rules

Reports say Apple and Comcast could soon team up and develop a joint product that aims to both rival Netflix and bypass certain net neutrality restrictions to be imposed by the Federal Communications Commission.

The Wall Street Journal said Apple and Comcast are looking to develop an Apple set-top box that would allow content to earn priority on Comcast cables, avoiding web congestion.

The product would look to compete with top content streaming provider Netflix, which recently announced that it would be “reluctantly” willing to pay cable and Internet service providers to ensure streaming quality is not affected by new neutrality rule changes.

The Federal Communications Commission is currently debating new net neutrality rules after an appeals court tossed earlier rules proposed by the telco watchdog. Some experts warn that the appeals court’s decision to reject those rules could lead to streaming services being forced to pay providers to deliver quality content, which may squeeze smaller rivals out of the competition.

The FCC’s first proposed rules on net neutrality were overturned following a lawsuit initiated by Verizon. The telco regulator had looked to prevent Internet service providers from treating rival content providers’ content differently.

Full Content: The Drum

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