Obama Prods the FCC to Fight for Strong Net Neutrality

President Obama has called for the Federal Communications Commission to “implement the strongest possible rules to protect net neutrality” by reclassifying broadband networks as telecommunication services and bringing them under the same regulations as phone networks. In doing so, the president has cast his lot firmly on the side of those calling for aggressive new Internet rules and stuck his finger in the eye of such companies as Verizon and Comcast as well as the newly empowered Republicans in Congress.

Obama wants to stop Internet providers from treating different kinds of traffic differently. He called for restrictions against slowing or blocking websites, more transparency on the deals between content companies and Internet providers, and a ban on charging fees for faster service. He also said that wireless networks should be covered by the same rules, reversing an exemption from the FCC’s 2010 Internet rules.