WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission voted on Thursday to
regulate broadband Internet service as a public utility, a milestone in
regulating high-speed Internet service into American homes.

Tom Wheeler, the commission chairman, said the F.C.C. was using “all the
tools in our toolbox to protect innovators and consumers� and preserve
the Internet’s role as a “core of free expression and democratic
principles.�

The new rules, approved 3 to 2 along party lines, are intended to ensure
that no content is blocked and that the Internet is not divided into
pay-to-play fast lanes for Internet and media companies that can afford
it and slow lanes for everyone else. Those prohibitions are hallmarks of
the net neutrality concept.

Explaining the reason for the regulation, Mr. Wheeler, a Democrat, said
that Internet access was “too important to let broadband providers be
the ones making the rules.�

For mo

http://tinyurl.com/n9eqnnw



Along party lines, of course, means the Republicans on the Commission
voted to **** non-corporate interests...again and as usual.

--
Proud to be a Liberal.