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Technology & Innovation

Net Neutrality Rules

The FCC’s net neutrality rule is a weak compromise that will not stop industry control of content delivery at consumers’ expense, says Beth Wellington at The Guardian.
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On 21 December, that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had passed its rule governing net neutrality 3-2 along party lines. The topic has been a source of partisan wrangling for years. Advocates of net neutrality argue users should control content viewed and applications used—that a level playing-field promotes democratic participation and free speech. Broadband providers and telephone companies, though, want freedom to boost profits by deciding which content gets to whom first and fastest. Both sides argue theirs is the course encouraging economic innovation.

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A federal ruling might be a big win for broadband companies who could cut deals with large content providers — Disney or Netflix — to ensure that their web content is delivered faster and more reliably than other sites. 

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