Net neutrality Stories August 21, 2018
22 states ask US appeals court to restore net neutrality, with tech company support
The battle to restore net neutrality protections continues as 22 states plus the District of Columbia have asked a US appeals court to reinstate the 2015 rules – with support from a number of tech companies …
Net neutrality Stories July 17, 2018
GOP congressman tries belt-and-braces approach to restoring net neutrality
The US Senate may have voted to restore net neutrality, but getting it through the House is a bigger hurdle. However, we’re now at least one step closer thanks to one Republican congressman taking a belt-and-braces approach …
Net neutrality Stories July 6, 2018
Net neutrality returning to California; new bills ‘strong and enforceable’
Net neutrality protection looks set to return to California after nationwide rules were repealed by the Trump administration in December of last year …
Net neutrality Stories May 3, 2018
Net neutrality not dead yet as Democratic senator attempts long-shot arcane procedure to save it
You might have thought net neutrality was dead – at least, outside of a few states defying the FCC to pass their own laws or rules. But one senator believes that there is still a chance to save it, using an arcane congressional procedure …
Net neutrality Stories March 6, 2018
When the Federal Communications Commission overturned net neutrality rules that ensured ISPs had to treat all websites and web services equally, it also decided that its own wishes should over-ride those of individual states. It included a provision that banned states from restoring consumer protection by passing their own net neutrality laws.
Some states – like New York – found workarounds, but Washington has decided to simply defy the FCC and pass its own law …
Net neutrality Stories February 22, 2018
Net neutrality ends on April 23, allowing ISPs to block & throttle content from that date
Following the Trump administration’s decision to repeal net neutrality rules, the FCC has today announced that the free-for-all begins on April 23. As of that date, it will be legal for Internet Service Providers to implement a two-speed Internet, with the fastest speeds reserved for companies able to pay for the privilege …
Net neutrality Stories January 24, 2018
Government watchdog to investigate fraud & identity theft in net neutrality comments
While the Trump administration saw the FCC repeal net neutrality, opponents of a two-speed Internet haven’t yet given up. After widespread allegations of fraud during the consultation process, including some particularly unpleasant allegations of identity theft, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has agreed to investigate …
Net neutrality Stories December 29, 2017
New York plans to safeguard net neutrality by withholding state contracts from violators
The repeal of net neutrality rules may allow Internet service providers and mobile carriers to block or throttle services at will, reserving the fastest bandwidth for companies who pay the toll, but the law may not be the only way to keep companies in line …
Net neutrality Stories July 25, 2017
The chairman of the U.S. Committee on Energy and Commerce, Greg Walden, has now called on tech leaders to testify on the future of net neutrality. Invitations to a hearing set for later this year were sent Tuesday to Alphabet execs as well as chief executives from other large corporations such as Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, Charter, and more…
Net neutrality Stories July 21, 2017
Unlimited data plans have to be one of the most blatant examples of false advertising. Whether you’re grandfathered into an old plan, or buy one today, deep in the small-print will be a note that the carrier reserves the right to throttle your speeds once you hit a certain usage level.
But Verizon Wireless has been accused of taking this one stage further, and throttling Netflix and YouTube usage for unlimited plan users even before they hit the 22GB level at which the company says it may reduce bandwidth …
More than 10M people take part in FCC consultation on net neutrality
Some 40 tech giants calling on the public to voice their support for net neutrality appears to have been successful: more than 10.5M comments have been made on the FCC website …
Net neutrality Stories July 12, 2017
It’s not often that a huge list of tech giants get together to speak with one voice, and it’s even more remarkable when they are protesting legislation which could actually benefit them, but that’s what’s happening today. A Day of Action has been called to ask the FCC to retain net neutrality rules.
Amazon, Dropbox, eBay, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Netflix, Reddit, Snap, Spotify and Twitter are just 11 of the 40 tech companies encouraging you to have your say …
Net neutrality Stories April 14, 2015
Google Fiber’s VP of access services Milo Medin says that while the company is a strong supporter of net neutrality, what consumers really need is legislation that enables greater competition in the broadband market. FierceTelecom reported Medin’s remarks in a keynote speed at the Comptel conference.
No consumers are seeing higher speeds than before the order was passed; no consumers are paying less for their Internet services than what they were paying for; no consumers are seeing higher volume caps that they had before; and no consumers have additional choice of providers than they had before.
Governments cannot legislate for better customer service, he said, but they can pass laws that increase competition in the market, and this is what will make the most difference to consumers … expand full story
Net neutrality Stories May 7, 2014
Following a proposal that many fear threatens net neutrality, a plethora of tech companies today have come together to support net neutrality in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission. The group is led by Google, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, Netflix, and Twitter, as well as many others.
The letter voices disapproval of a recent proposal that would allow people to pay more in order to gain a higher priority from their internet service provider. The letter focuses on keeping the internet open, and perhaps treated as a utility. The companies make the case that with this new paid prioritization proposition, ISPs would be discriminating both technically and financially against internet companies
