FCC Passes Strict Net Neutrality Regulations on 3-2 Vote

Re:FCC Passes Strict Net Neutrality Regulations on 3-2 Vote by pdabbadabba on Thursday February 26, 2015 @02:13PM (#9114620)

> Conservatives don't like it because it allows the FCC to do things like rate-setting, even if this administration chooses not to use that power. Liberals don't like the specter of FCC regulation of content.

This is a funny line of reasoning on the part of Conservatives. Reclassification under Title II is supposedly bad because it allows future Commissions to impose rate-setting requirements. But, in the absence of Title II reclassification today, a future Commission could still have imposed a rate-setting regime. How? They could have reclassified broadband under Title II! In other words, reclassification under Title II today doesn't allow future Commissions to do anything they couldn't have done before, if they wanted to, because in either case, the the Commission has the power to take both steps simultaneously.

I guess you could argue that it makes it easier politically to impose rate setting in the future. But I'm not sure this holds any water if the very thing that worries most critics of Title II reclassification is rate setting.

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Re:FCC Passes Strict Net Neutrality Regulations on 3-2 Vote by cpeterso on Thursday February 26, 2015 @04:02PM (#9115465)

True, but reclassifying now is one step in that direction, making rate setting easier in the future.

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Re:FCC Passes Strict Net Neutrality Regulations on 3-2 Vote by smutticus on Thursday February 26, 2015 @04:45PM (#9115727)

So their only argument is the "slippery slope" one. That's pretty weak given how difficult it was to get these rules passed.

Also, in Verizon v. FCC SCOTUS essentially reinforced the Chevron doctrine even more. So there essentially is no slippery slope at the FCC. They don't require a gradual rules change procedure, there is no slippery slope for them to fall down.

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Re:FCC Passes Strict Net Neutrality Regulations on 3-2 Vote by itistoday2 on Thursday February 26, 2015 @02:31PM (#9114792)

Could someone explain for the ignorant what "rate setting" means in this context?

Does it refer to download/upload rates, or does it refer to $$ rates (between whom)?

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Re:FCC Passes Strict Net Neutrality Regulations on 3-2 Vote by URSpider94 on Thursday February 26, 2015 @02:45PM (#9114909)

It refers to setting the rate for monthly service. Title II was written to regulate phone companies, where for many years AT&T had a government-granted monopoly on phone service. In return for that monopoly, the government got the right to regulate phone rates.

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