In a Fact Sheet released February 4, 2015, the
Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") provided a
preview of its next foray into the controversial Open Internet
debate. Following up on its proposal from one year ago, the FCC reports
that new rules are being prepared that would reclassify broadband
internet as a telecommunications service, which is regulated under
Title II of the Communications Act of 1934, thus definitively
bringing broadband internet clearly within the FCC's
oversight.
The forthcoming order is a direct response to the 2010 case
Verizon v. FCC, in which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC
Circuit struck down the bulk the FCC's attempt to codify
network neutrality principles into its rules. The DC Circuit ruled
that common carrier-style regulations simply could not be applied
to a service that was not regulated under Title II. In this order,
the FCC will seek to conclusively assert jurisdiction over
"broadband Internet access service," the retail internet
service that Americans buy from cable, phone, and wireless
providers, by reclassifying it as a telecommunications service
under Title II. The FCC will also reassert its existing authority
under Section 706, which survived judicial review, to protect and
promote the "virtuous circle" of network innovation and
infrastructure development.
This proposed order would restore and expand the applicability of
the Open Internet rules that were struck down in 2010, broadening
their effect from only fixed broadband providers to all providers
of broadband internet, including wireless carriers. The FCC
explains that these "bright line" rules would "ban
practices known to harm the Open Internet":
- No Blocking: Broadband providers may not block access to legal content, applications, services, or nonharmful devices.
- No Throttling: Broadband providers may not impair or degrade lawful internet traffic on the basis of content, applications, services, or nonharmful devices.
- No Paid Prioritization: Broadband providers may not favor some lawful internet traffic over other lawful traffic in exchange for consideration—in other words, no "fast lanes." This rule also bans internet service providers ("ISPs") from prioritizing content and services of their affiliates.
In addition to these bright-line rules, the FCC also proposes several broad principles to elaborate on the its theme of protecting consumers.
- "Do No Harm": Because of the constant growth and change of the internet, myriad fact-specific questions will arise that cannot be covered by specific rules. The FCC therefore seeks to establish a "known standard" by which new practices can be judged. The FCC proposes a general Open Internet conduct standard that "ISPs cannot harm consumers or edge (content) providers."
- Greater Transparency: The FCC announces that its forthcoming order will enhance the broadband transparency rules that require ISPs to disclose information regarding their network management practices, performance, and commercial terms.
- Reasonable Network Management: The FCC makes clear that reasonable network management must be "legitimate" and not invoked to justify a "commercial purpose," such a reneging on a promise to supply a customer with "unlimited" data.
Out of deference to concerns from industry that increased
oversight will bring increased regulatory burdens, the FCC
clarifies that it will forbear from enforcing elements of Title II
regulation that are not in the public interest. In particular, the
FCC intends to categorically refrain from regulating the rates of
broadband internet providers, or imposing new taxes or fees, such
as Universal Service Fund contribution obligations that currently
apply to providers of telecommunications. The order also seeks to
promote broadband deployment by ensuring access to poles and
conduits, and increasing Universal Service Fund support for
broadband service.
The order will be on the agenda for the upcoming February 26,
2015, FCC Open Meeting, and it will likely pass on a party-line
vote. At least one broadband provider, AT&T, has already
signaled that it would challenge the new rules in court, arguing
that the throttling, blocking, and prioritization functions are
reasonable network management, even when applied for business
reasons, and that broadband internet is inherently an information
service that may not be arbitrarily reclassified. Thus, the
FCC's forthcoming order is likely be a decisive new chapter in
the Open Internet debate but will certainly not be the end of the
story.
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