OTI Applauds FCC’s Reinstatement of Vital Open Internet Protections and Industry Oversight

In response to today’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) vote on restoring Title II classification of broadband providers and Net Neutrality rules, the Open Technology Institute (OTI), a New America program fostering equitable access to digital technology and its benefits, issued the following statement from Raza Panjwani, a Senior Policy Counsel at OTI, and Michael Calabrese, Director of the Wireless Future Project at OTI.

Raza Panjwani: We’re pleased to see the restoration of Title II authority and Net Neutrality rules. But let’s be clear: this is nearly two decades later than it had to be. For two decades, the industry has resisted even the most basic forms of accountability, challenging common sense rules—two decades that could have been spent addressing consumer protection, affordability, competition and network resiliency, safety, and security issues.

We look forward to seeing the final rules, which we hope will reflect our recommendations for establishing the strongest possible rules for consumers, including on issues such as “network slicing,” throttling, and affordability.

With the question of authority now settled, we can fully focus our attention on bridging the digital divide once and for all.

Michael Calabrese: All of us who rely on the internet every day can breathe a sigh of relief, because the FCC is back on the beat. The reinstatement of strong open internet protections under Title II of the Communications Act are vital to promoting a virtuous cycle of online innovation, competition, and consumer choice.

As mobile carriers develop what they call “network slicing,” we will be on the lookout for offers that violate the fundamental principles of network neutrality. One overlooked way the rules promote competition is through regulatory parity, so that no broadband technology, such as cable or mobile broadband, is given an exemption from the most essential bright line rules that prohibit discriminatory fast lanes or paid prioritization that favor any particular company’s apps or content.