Net neutrality - live updates: Politicians prepare to fight against FCC's decision to scrap rules protecting internet freedoms
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under the direction of President Trump, has voted to repeal Obama-era rules governing net neutrality.
The five-person board has voted in favour of ending net neutrality, a decision that could have a huge effect on the way the internet works.
Supporters of net neutrality say the move could open the door for internet service providers (ISPs) to charge customers more and dictate what people use the internet for.
Please allow a moment for the live blog to load.
Immediately after the vote, Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson said he intended to file a legal challenge against the vote. It is unlikely to be the last.
ISPs greeted the news warmly, but Senator Ed Markey a Democrat from Massachusetts said he would be looking to introduce an act in Congress calling for a review of the FCC decision. he labelled it a "historic mistake".
“There is no real mention of the thousands of net neutrality complaints filed by consumers. Why? The majority has refused to put them in the record while maintaining the rhetoric that there have been no real complaints or no real violations.”
“Now this order loudly crows about handing over authority of broadband to the Federal Trade Commission but what is absent from the order and glossed over in a haphazardly issued of a memorandum of understanding or MOU is that the FTC is an agency with no, no, none, nada, technical expertise in telecommunications.
“The FTC is an agency that may or may not even have authority over broadband providers in the first instance. The FTC is an agency that if you can even reach a very high bar of proving unfair or deceptive practices and that there is substantial consumer injury, it may take years upon years for any remedy to be levied and most companies don't have years and years to wait for an answer.”
Commissioner Clyburn: “What saddens me the most today is that the agency that is supposed to protect you is actually abandoning you. But what I am saying is the agency does not have the final word. Thank goodness for that.”
Commissioner O’Rielly takes the stage: “For those of you out there that are fearful what tomorrow may bring, please take a deep breath. This decision will not break the internet.
“What we are doing is reverting back to the highly successful bipartisan governmental approach that existed before 2015.”
O’Rielly: “I am hopeful that if the congress does go down this path it will see merit in rejecting the band on pay prioritization.
“Clearly our case today and many more that will develop in time in which the option of a paid prioritization offering would be a necessity based on either technology or needs of consumer welfare.
“I for one see great value in the prioritization of telemedicine and autonomous car technology over cat videos.”
O’Rielly: “I sincerely doubt that legitimate businesses are willing to subject themselves to a PR nightmare for blocking, throttling or improper discrimination.
“it's not worth the reputational cost and potential loss of business.”
O’Rielly: “Some would like to have us believe that the comment process has been irreparably tainted by the large number of fake comments. That view reflects a lack of understanding of what the administrative procedure act.
"The agency is required to consider and respond to significant comments in the record. Millions of comments that say that I look like a potato.”
Commissioner O’Rielly: “I disagree with the suggestion the commission should have held public hearings.Any member of the public that wanted to express a view could have done through so the comment process and many, many many did.
“Public hearings may bring about some additional people in particular locations but is inefficient for reaching large numbers of interested parties around the country.”
Commissioner Carr now takes the mic: “This is no free for all. This is no thunderdome. The FCC is not killing the internet.”
Commissioner Rosenworcel now gets an opportunity to speak: “Net neutrality is internet freedom. I support that freedom. I dissent from this rash decision to roll back net neutrality rules. I dissent from the corrupt process that has brought us to this point and I dissent from the contempt this agency has shown our citizens in pursuing this path today.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments