The way internet regulation in the United States has undergone significant changes. On the 11th local time, the US government's network neutrality regulations were officially abolished, and the new regulations stipulate that network operators will have the right to decide what content consumers obtain. The attitude shift of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States has given operators the upper hand in their battles with internet companies. But the opposition from internet companies and consumers has not subsided, and the struggle between the two parties in the United States over network neutrality is still ongoing. It is less than six months since the midterm elections, and the US Congress will become a new battlefield.
The Victory of Operators
According to CNN, a spokesperson for the FCC recently confirmed that the new regulations will officially take effect on the 11th local time as originally planned. In December last year, the FCC abolished the network neutrality regulations established by the Obama administration with a vote of 3 in favor and 2 against. The new regulations allow network operators to block certain websites or reduce the speed of accessing them without informing consumers in advance.
After the disclosure of this news, major network operators in the United States, including Verizon, AT&T, and Comcast, issued statements stating that the FCC's move will reinvigorate the internet service industry. On the other hand, internet companies such as Google, Facebook, and Netflix have been greatly disappointed, criticizing the FCC's decision for endangering the openness of the internet and hindering innovation and opportunities in the internet industry.
Analysts pointed out that the new regulations mark that network operators can finally lift the three shackles of "no traffic restriction", "no payment priority", and "no blockade", and thus control the "power of life and death" of internet traffic entrances. Opponents worry that network operators will be able to allow or prohibit users from accessing specific websites, such as competitors or critics' companies, according to their own preferences, "and they will decide what consumers see.
In addition, there may also be large-scale vertical mergers and acquisitions after operators become dominant. After the new regulations take effect, the US federal court will make a final ruling on whether AT&T can acquire Time Warner on the 12th local time. AT&T is currently the largest wireless network operator in the United States, while Time Warner is a content manufacturer with numerous well-known brands such as HBO and CNN. Once the two merge, a huge media empire is about to emerge. People are generally concerned that this empire will monopolize people's channels of information acquisition.
In response, operators such as Comcast and Verizon have earlier stated that they will not require users to pay extra to access certain websites, and the profits brought by the new regulations will be used to improve network facilities in remote areas. However, as early as 2015, AT&T was exposed as offering discounts on its Direct TV data traffic and using user subsidies to aid the channel's expenses. Comcast has also been accused of intentionally slowing down Netflix's network traffic and forcing Netflix to make payments.
Difficult to reconcile differences
In the process of competition among various forces, the FCC undoubtedly holds a core position.
The current FCC Chairman, Akit Pai, is a promoter of the abolition of network neutrality regulations. In 2015, the FCC passed the proposal for a network neutrality regulation with 3 votes in favor and 2 votes against
