Advocates of net neutrality consider these protections fundamental to maintaining an open and fair internet. With net neutrality rules in place, internet service providers are obligated to provide users with equal access to all websites, content, and applications, ensuring that no content is blocked or given preferential treatment. They are also prohibited from charging fees to streaming services for faster service.
Commissioner Anna Gomez, who assumed her position as the panel’s third Democratic member in September, emphasized the importance of these proposed net neutrality rules. She stated that these principles protect consumers and contribute to a vibrant, competitive broadband internet ecosystem, promoting access to an open and equitable internet for all.
In contrast, critics argue that net neutrality rules are unnecessary. Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the FCC, pointed out that since the FCC’s decision in 2017 to return the internet to the regulatory framework it had thrived under for decades, broadband speeds have increased, prices have dropped, competition has intensified, and significant broadband deployments have bridged the digital divide for millions of Americans. Carr stated, “The Internet is not broken, and the FCC does not need Title II to fix it. I would encourage the agency to reverse course and focus on the important issues that Congress has authorized the FCC to advance.”
