FCC Proposing Skewed Net Neutrality Rules: Preferential Treatment

It's become apparent this week that the Federal Communications Commission plans on proposing a set of rules which would affect the way we access the internet. While in the past, "Net Neutrality" bills have suggested there be no blocking or preferential treatment of or for companies with webpages and web provider networks. This week the FCC is proposing that these companies can have their cake and eat it too.

Rules proposed this week would do two relatively simple things. The first is along the same lines as previous Net Neutrality bills – preventing internet service providers from blocking or discriminating against specific websites and brands. The second is new, and is essentially against the Net Neutrality cause.

This second part of the rule set proposed by the FCC would give the right to internet provider services to give preferential treatment to webpages of their choice. This comes with a clause that all agreements between providers and brands with webpages much be available on "commercially reasonable" terms for any company that wishes to get in on the deal.

This means that companies with massive amounts of cash will easily be able to ensure their connection to consumers is solid over the web. Newer companies will still have the opportunity to pay for this treatment, but "commercially reasonable" terms may not be ideal for every group.

Groups – or individuals – who wish to host their own content and do so without cost are not said to be getting the boot, in this situation, but they're certainly not getting the long end of the stick.

VIA: Wall Street Journal