On Thursday the Federal Communications Commission is expected to vote on whether internet service should be treated as a public utility. Unfortunately it seems they will vote it should be.
By doing so they could prohibit companies for paying for faster lanes on the internet. Two Democrats commissioners are negotiating over the details and they are expected to side with Democratic chairman, Tom Wheeler as opposed to his Republican counterparts.Republicans on Capital Hill have argued the take over is equivalent to “Obamacare for the Internet,” but now they are saying they will most likely not pass a legislative response that would undo the decision.
Per The New York Times, Senator John Thune (R-SD) has said:
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Completing this poll grants you access to Shark Tank updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.We’re not going to get a signed bill that doesn’t have Democrats’ support. This is an issue that needs to have bipartisan support.
Even though the suspected new F.C.C. rules will probably not be challenged by Congress they are expected to be challenged in court by cable companies and internet service providers that are against it. In the future the rules could be overturned by a Republican leaning commission as well.
As for the new plan, it would allow the F.C.C. to regulate Internet access as if it was any other public good, ie: phones, television. In addition it would ban the intentional slowing of the internet by companies that refuse to pay broadband providers. That all sounds good at first glance but what is bothersome is the possibilities in the future. Essentially it is giving government control of a service that was previously a free enterprise. As we have seen in the past and most recently with healthcare when government takes over the outcome is never better for the majority of Americans.Internet service providers have said they are worried if the government had control over the internet they could impose taxes on users. That is yet to be seen but is plausible.
Senator Ted Cruz (TX-R) opposes the FCC taking over the internet and has released the following spoof about the matter: