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FCC Endorses Net Neutrality Rules

  • Politico, Tuesday, December 21, 2010 2:27 PM
The Federal Communications Commission has adopted new rules to govern how Internet providers treat Web traffic and services. The move, according to Politico, "sets the stage for a heated political battle on Capitol Hill come January." Democrats on the panel, today, voted to approve the first enforceable Net neutrality rules, which will prohibit Internet service providers such as AT&T, Verizon and Comcast from blocking access to lawful content and websites.

"Given the importance of an open Internet to our economic future ... it is essential that the FCC fulfill its historic role as a cop on the beat to ensure the vitality of our communications networks and to empower and protect consumers of those networks," FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said. Meanwhile, "Although some stakeholders complain the FCC's order goes either too far or not far enough, Genachowski and top Democrats say it represents progress on an issue that has been mired in political wrangling for years." Republicans at both the FCC and in Congress strongly oppose any rules to govern Web traffic.

Read the whole story at Politico »

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