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04/25/2024 06:54:41 am

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Obama Wants FCC To Reclassify ISPs As Title II Common Carrier

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(Photo : Reuters) Obama has sent out a letter to the FCC, calling on the agency to enact Title II common carrier on ISP, promoting net neutrality laws.

After reaffirming his stance as a pro-net neutrality supporter, U.S. President Barack Obama has sent an open letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, urging him to reclassify broadband providers at Title II common carrier, under the same rules as telephone companies.

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In the statement Obama provided, the President said the FCC "Should create a new set of rules protecting net neutrality and ensuring that neither the cable company nor the phone company will be able to act as a gatekeeper, restricting what you can do or see online."

Obama speaks on behalf of his administration, who backs the current pro-net neutrality view that unless broadband providers get classified as Title II common carriers, they will find a way to create paid prioritization and t"throttle the Internet for customers.

Some of the paid prioritization is already happening, with Verizon, AT&T and Comcast all receiving a cut from Netflix, in order to prevent slower speeds on the video streaming service. This new law offered by Obama would stop these type of back-door deals.

The FCC's current hybrid plan would make the customer and back-end side two different entities, one regulated and the other unregulated. Public advocacy groups have went against this new legislation, since it could still mean paid prioritization.

Broadband companies have said if the FCC reclassifies broadband as common carrier, they will sue the agency.

In the open letter, Obama said wireless carriers should also be put under the same scrutiny, since more people are using their phones to use the Internet. This is the first time the wireless carriers have been mentioned by a senior authority, and might mean carriers will receive the same classification to Title II common carrier.

Tom Wheeler is currently staying quiet on the subject and is rejecting all invitations to go to conferences, to talk about net neutrality and the issues the FCC face. This might be due to the unpopular route the FCC has taken, going against the public request.

Obama is a strong figure in the political world, even with the President only having two years left in charge. If Wheeler goes against Obama and most of the public, he might face more than a few angry emails - especially if broadband providers start implementing fast lanes.

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