Consumer groups and tech companies including Mozilla are continuing the fight to overturn the FCC’s latest ruling and bring about the return of net neutrality. The maker of the popular Firefox web browser joined other influential companies such as Etsy and Vimeo, along with public-interest advocates, to ask a panel of judges to rehear a case that upheld an FCC decision to repeal open-Internet rules.
Let’s stop for a second a review what net neutrality is. In December of 2010, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) passed the Open Internet Order, requiring internet service providers (ISPs) to give everyone equal access to everything they use the internet for. This order also prevented ISPs from creating pay-to-play “fast lanes” for faster delivery of content to those who could afford to pay more.
Seven years later, the FCC voted to repeal these rules and overturn net neutrality. Ajit Pai, the agency’s chairman at the time who opposed the regulations, said that they impeded innovation and were based on “hypothetical harms and hysterical prophecies of doom.”
For more background and a quick tutorial about net neutrality and how it can affect your internet experience check out these articles:
- Softcom position on Net Neutrality
- Federal court says FCC can’t block state laws supporting net neutrality
The fight may continue, but one thing remains the same – Softcom’s commitment to equal internet for all. Here at Softcom we believe that everyone should have the same opportunities to access the internet, no matter where they live, without us getting in the way of you getting the content you want. Our pledge to you is that we’ll continue to provide the best internet access and services to each and every customer – without any net neutrality shenanigans.