Why more and more US states are returning network neutrality – discuss the course of events
/ Unsplash / Sean z
Brief Background
In 2017, the FCC abolished the rules of network neutrality and banned states to introduce them locally. Since then, the public has not stopped trying to turn the situation back on track. In 2018, Mozilla sued to the Federal Communications Commission, since, in their opinion, the abolition of net neutrality is contrary to the constitution, interferes with the work of providers and web application developers.
Three months ago, the court ruled on this issue. The abolition of net neutrality was recognized as legal, but the judge ruled that the commission could not prohibit local authorities from introducing their own restrictions related to network neutrality. And they started using this opportunity.
Which States Return Network Neutrality
Relevant law have accepted in California. Today he is an one of the most stringent laws of this kind in the country – it was even called the “gold standard.” It prohibits providers from blocking and differentiating traffic from different sources.
New rules also ban policy zero rating (zero-rating) – now telecom operators can not provide users with access to content without taking into account traffic. According to the regulator, this approach equalizes the capabilities of large and small Internet providers – the latter do not have the resources to attract new customers, offering to watch videos in an online movie theater or use a certain social network without restrictions.
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In Washington, a law restoring net neutrality, works since June 2018. Authorities did not wait for the results of the Mozilla and FCC proceedings. There, operators can’t prioritize user traffic and take extra money for it. Similar law acts in Oregon, but it’s not so strict – for example, it does not apply to Internet service providers working with government organizations.
A similar initiative is being worked out by New York authorities. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced plans to return net neutrality to the state in 2020. The new rules will be similar to the law passed by the California regulator – zero-rating will also be banned.
Soon, there will be more such bills. Last year, along with Mozilla, sued FCC filed attorney generals of 22 states – it can be expected that the authorities in these states are already preparing new legislation.
FCC Position and Community Response
The head of the FCC, Ajit Pai (Ajit Pai) did not support the policy of local authorities who want to return network neutrality. is he convincedthat the decision adopted by the Commission in 2018 benefited the industry and contributed to the development of network infrastructure. Since the abolition of net neutrality, the average Internet access speed in the country has increased, as has the number of connected households.
But a number of experts binds these trends with the increasing number of cities deploying their own broadband networks. George Washington University Analysts they saythat Internet service providers in the USA do not invest additional funds in infrastructure development. Moreover, according to given the Free Press human rights group, investment over the past two years, on the contrary, has declined. For example, representatives of AT&T toldthat in 2020 they plan to cut the corresponding budget by $ 3 billion. With a similar statement made in comcast.
/ CC BY-SA / Free press
In any case, local laws that return network neutrality at the state level are only half measures that can lead to an ambiguous situation in the telecommunications market. Internet Service Providers will offer different tariffs for users of different states – as a result, some citizens will receive not the most favorable conditions for access to the Internet.
Experts note that to resolve the situation is possible only at the federal level. And work in this direction is already underway. US House of Representatives In April approved the billthat overrides the FCC decision and restores the rules of network neutrality. So far the senate refuses put it to the vote, but the situation may change in the future.
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