Content

  • Page 1 — self-depowering of US internet supervision
  • Page 2 — providers gain more impact on content
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    On Thursday, US regulatory authority FCC passed virtually completely out of control over net neutrality. Not only has it liberated broadband providers from previous restrictions on commercial network management. Moreover, it does not want to have any more to do with it if providers violate ir own promises. It is no wonder that network activists like Electronic Frontier Foundation are now reckoning with bad excesses in data transport on Internet.

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    The FCC had 2015, under its n chairman Tom Wheeler, broadband networks with a supply infrastructure to be able to take m regulatoryally to short leash. With scarcely substantiated claim that sharp rules on net neutrality had reduced investment in grid expansion and impaired innovations, Wheelers ‘ successor Ajit Pai abolished regulations again.

    Trump’s Personalie crucial

    Just like 2015, decision was made on Thursday strictly along party lines. Three Republican representatives voted in favour, against two Democratic FCC members. US president Donald Trump had replaced Wheeler with his adversary Pai, immediately after taking office. With this personalisation, abolition of net neutrality was practically sealed.

    US regulator raises net neutrality decision to repeal net neutrality introduced by Obama administration could change Internet sustainably: for now, network providers can block content again, slow down or pay for Speed. © PHOTO: Reuters/Aaron P. Bernstein

    The 210-page draft adopted by FCC on Thursday provides that Internet providers mselves may make controversial practices such as blocking, throttling, paid or unpaid prioritization of traffic, as long as y do so in a transparent Announce. The control of providers, including data protection, will be left to US commercial Authority, FTC, which is responsible for competition control and consumer protection. This is intended to protect consumers “from all unfair, misleading and anti-competitive practices without burdening regulations, so that comparable benefits are achieved at lower costs”.

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    Transferred to Germany this would mean that Federal Network agency itself discharges itself from supervision of telecommunications companies and this is imposes to Federal Cartel Office. As if Internet was not about communication and its technical requirements. However, in this country it is stipulated in laws and regulations which tasks Federal Network agency must fulfil, and what requirements providers must comply with.

    But FCC has abolished technical net neutrality with new regulation and downgraded it to a mere consumer protection issue. Since providers are allowed to do anything anyway, it is only a matter of wher y have announced it to users in terms of contract or advertisements. In a memorandum of understanding, FTC and FCC have now agreed on how to exercise remaining control functions. According to this, FCC only wants to observe market entry barriers and to dismantle possible hurdles.

    Internet pioneers Appeal in vain

    According to US media, FCC does not even want to intervene if re are disputes between providers of interconnection payments, as y had encountered a few years ago in connection with traffic of streaming Netflix. In addition, AT T is currently trying to leverage FTC’s powers in regulating providers. It is refore feared that in end no supervisory authority will be responsible.

    In connection with reorganisation, renowned internet pioneers such as www-inventor Tim Berners-Lee or Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak accused FCC of not correctly understanding functioning of Internet. In a 43-page analysis published in July 2017, 200 internet experts criticized, among or things, that authority is far too highly evaluating importance of Internet service providers (ISPs). In addition, it was criticized that FCC did not conduct a single public hearing on subject and did not resolve any obvious flaws in its online commentary system.