US: FCC takes another look at open Internet rules

Following a federal appeals court ruling that reinforced the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to regulate broadband services in favor of stronger competition, the authority is set to propose new rules for an open Internet after earlier policies were shot down.

FCC head Tom Wheeler will announced plans to prohibit Internet service providers from discriminating against content providers; similarly, broadband service providers will have to treat all content equally.

The regulations come after a federal appeals court found that the FCC illegally treated Internet providers as regulated utilities.

But the FCC will not appeal that decision as the court also ruled that the regulator has the authority to regulate broadband service to promote competition, essentially expanding its powers.

As the authority mulls open Internet policies, the FCC will begin reviewing Comcast’s proposal to acquire Time Warner Cable, merging the nation’s two largest cable providers. Reports say their plans have raised concerns that the new merged company will have enough market dominance to force Internet content providers to pay to reach broadband customers.

Full Content: New York Times

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