The main thing is ensuring all internet traffic is treated equally, basically like you said. ISPs can’t block, throttle, or prioritize content. Some examples:
Comcast can’t throttle Netflix to make their own Peacock service seem better.
Providers can’t say that you have unlimited usage of Netflix, but other video services count towards your monthly quota. Some mobile providers in other countries do this.
They also made two other changes. Directly from their press release:
Safeguard National Security – The Commission will have the ability to revoke the authorizations of foreign-owned entities who pose a threat to national security to operate broadband networks in the U.S. The Commission has previously exercised this authority under section 214 of the Communications Act to revoke the operating authorities of four Chinese state-owned carriers to provide voice services in the U.S. Any provider without section 214 authorization for voice services must now also cease any fixed or mobile broadband service operations in the United States.
Monitor Internet Service Outages – When workers cannot telework, students cannot study, or businesses cannot market their products because their internet service is out, the FCC can now play an active role.
Yeah, I’m not sure. The press release on the FCC’s site doesn’t have much detail. I’m sure there’s some “official” text somewhere that has a detailed explanation, but I’m not sure where to look for it.
What about cell service providers selectively throttling your speed based on an estimate of the video resolution you are streaming? What about cell service providers counting tethering separately from normal data?
Anyone know what the actual changes are, what they mean for us? Is this just preventing ISPs from prioritizing/throttling certain sites?
The main thing is ensuring all internet traffic is treated equally, basically like you said. ISPs can’t block, throttle, or prioritize content. Some examples:
They also made two other changes. Directly from their press release:
Thanks for writing all that out.
This one is interesting. I wonder if that means they can enforce some kind of minimum uptime? For areas that have a lot of outages.
Yeah, I’m not sure. The press release on the FCC’s site doesn’t have much detail. I’m sure there’s some “official” text somewhere that has a detailed explanation, but I’m not sure where to look for it.
What about cell service providers selectively throttling your speed based on an estimate of the video resolution you are streaming? What about cell service providers counting tethering separately from normal data?