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Claire McLoone

For the past month, there has been raised concerns around the topic of ‘net neutrality’. Yesterday, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), voted to end rules that were put in effect by the Obama administration to keep the internet open and fair. As for all of us, we grew up in the internet being part of our everyday lives. Here’s the facts:

  • What it means: There are no longer any rules preventing internet service providers from playing favorites by speeding up or slowing down traffic from specific websites and apps. This could fundamentally alter the future internet landscape.

 

  • What’s next: It is not set in stone and would take months to start making changes. The issue may ultimately end up being decided in court. Congress can also choose to pursue a legislative solution.

 

  • How the courts can change the repeal:  Congress has 60 legislative days to act once the rule is submitted. The Senate will have to enact the resolution by a simple majority. President Trump has veto power. Earlier yesterday, the White House said it supports this repeal.

 

  • What will Trump do?: Yesterday, the same day of the neutrality repeal, President Trump held a press conference to talk about the more than 1,500 regulatory actions his administration has canceled or delayed in 2017. Earlier this year, he wanted to kill two regulations for everyone regulation passed. He said yesterday that they beat that number — the administration halted 22 regulations for everyone put in place. After the speech, he walked over to two stacks: One showed how many regulations were in place in the 1960s. The other showed today, claiming it will very soon be even smaller than the 1960s regulations.

 

 

  • Should we worry?: Not at the moment, the following states are planning on joining New York in suing the FCC: California, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, North Carolina, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Virginia. The repeal also still has to go through congress.

Is this the revenge of blockbuster?…. The world may never know.