Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
US regulators approve 'net neutrality' rules
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
US regulators approve 'net neutrality' rules
AFP - Wednesday, December 22
Send
IM Story
Print
WASHINGTON (AFP) - – US telecom regulators, in a vote split on party lines, approved rules that supporters said are needed to ensure an open Internet but opponents decried as unnecessary government intervention.
The five-member Federal Communications Commission (FCC) agreed to the rules aimed at safeguarding "network neutrality," the principle that lawful Web traffic should be treated equally, by a 3-2 vote at an open meeting here.
The three Democrats on the panel voted in favor of the rules, which are likely to face legal challenges and Republican opposition in Congress, while the two Republicans voted against them.
"Our action will advance our goal of having America's broadband networks be the freest and fastest in the world," said FCC chairman Julius Genachowski.
The FCC's first-ever "net neutrality" rules met with a mixed reaction, with public interest groups and some Democrats saying they did not go far enough and Republicans condemning them as government meddling in the private sector.
President Barack Obama said the FCC move "will help preserve the free and open nature of the Internet while encouraging innovation, protecting consumer choice, and defending free speech."
Representative John Boehner, a Republican from Ohio who is slated to become speaker when the Republicans take control of the House of Representatives in January, said "the new House majority will work to reverse this unnecessary and harmful federal government power grab."
The rules are a balancing act by the FCC between support for consumers and the cable and telephone companies that are the US Internet Service Providers.
One controversial rule saw the FCC endorse taking a different approach to fixed broadband and mobile broadband, giving wireless providers greater freedom to manage their networks because of spectrum issues.
Under the new rules, both fixed and mobile broadband providers are allowed to conduct "reasonable network management."
The rules would prevent fixed broadband providers from blocking lawful content, applications or services, providing their own video content at a faster speed, for example, than that of a rival.
Wireless providers may not block access to lawful websites or applications that compete directly with their own voice or video telephony services but they could block other applications or services.
Fixed broadband providers can also charge consumers according to usage, a metered pricing practice already used by some wireless carriers.
Craig Aaron, managing director of public interest group Free Press, said the rules "don't do enough to stop the phone and cable companies from dividing the Internet into fast and slow lanes, and they fail to protect wireless users from discrimination.
"No longer can you get to the same Internet via your mobile device as you can via your laptop," Aaron said.
Senator Al Franken, a Democrat from Minnesota, said "net neutrality" is the "most important free speech issue of our time" and the rules fall "far short."
"Mobile networks like AT&T and Verizon Wireless would be able to shut off your access to content or applications for any reason," he said. "For instance, Verizon could prevent you from accessing Google Maps on your phone, forcing you to use their own mapping program, Verizon Navigator, even if it costs money to use and isn't nearly as good."
Verizon said it was "deeply concerned" by the split FCC vote.
"The FCC appears to assert broad authority for sweeping new regulation of broadband wireline and wireless networks and the Internet itself," it said. "This assertion of authority without solid statutory underpinnings will yield continued uncertainty for industry, innovators, and investors."
Michael Copps, one of the Democrats on the FCC, expressed regret that the rules -- while discouraging -- did not explicitly ban "paid prioritization," the practice of a company paying for the faster delivery of its own content.
Robert McDowell, one of the Republican commissioners, described the vote as "one of the darkest days in recent FCC history" and said it would open the door to "a global Internet regulatory pandemic."
"The courts will easily sink it," McDowell predicted.
"Nothing is broken in the Internet access market that needs fixing. Existing law and Internet structures provide ample protection to consumers," he said.
The FCC drafted the rules after suffering a legal setback in April when a court ruled that it had not been granted the authority by Congress to regulate the network management practices of Internet service providers.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Mitsui to spend $1.2 bln on Rio Tinto JV expansion Reuters - 32 minutes ago
Belgian Eden Chocolates wants China listing-paper Reuters - 34 minutes ago
Insurer Catlin raises loss estimate from NZ quake Reuters - 34 minutes ago
Swiss franc gains, hits 2-month high vs dollar Reuters - 35 minutes ago
JGBs gain on month-end buys; 2-yr sale well received Reuters - 35 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Russia investigates Bank of Moscow over loan
Zsa Zsa Gabor's prince glues own eye shut
Obama congratulates Iraq on new government
Fears grow of euro-style debt crisis in US states
Europe airport chaos slammed as snow misery grows
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
US gets tough on shark fins
Lunar eclipse makes memorable solstice
Japan bio-scientists produce 'singing mouse'
Brazil overtakes Germany as 4th biggest car market
Autistic children lack visual skills: study
More Most Viewed »
NASA finds new form of life... on Earth
Defiant Obama defends tax cuts, eyes 2012
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Wednesday, 22 December 2010 Kindergarten near-miss highlights Gaza risks
Iraq approves new government with Maliki as PM
No IPO for Hulu for now: report
British PM slaps down business minister over Murdoch remarks
Egypt and Libya's vow to respect south Sudan vote
1.5 million Windows 7 phones sold in six weeks
US Fed extends dollar lifeline for central banks
Canada's TD Bank to buy Chrysler Financial for $6.3 bln
Iraq parliament gives Maliki govt stamp of approval
China state newspaper launches search engine
Japan telecom firm KDDI to start e-book distribution
Ivory Coast's Ouattara urges civil revolt
Two thirds of Holocaust victims now identified
Belarus jails more than 600 opposition activists
|
S.Koreans tweeting with N.Korea to be punished: officials
British state borrowing hits record high: official
Foreign troop deaths in Afghan war top 700 in 2010
Quake hits southeast Japan, tsunami warning issued
|
US-TECH Summary
News
WikiLeaks's Assange to publish memoirs: report
Strong quake hits northern Indonesia
U.S. targets Zimbabwe attorney general for sanctions
|
Analysis: FCC plan feared stunting Internet TV services
Renegade ambush kills 20 south Sudan soldiers
China demands S.Korea pay for sunken fishing boat
Ulvac sees demand for small OLED panel gear
Jailed Iranian students start hunger strike
Nigerians evacuate Ivory Coast after embassy attack
|
Cyprus delays online poker ban
Strong earthquake hits off southern Japan
Iraq parliament gives Maliki govt stamp of approval
Condoms still banned for birth control: Vatican
|
Iraq parliament confirms Maliki as prime minister
Mexico's tequila refines its act
Spider-Man actor hurt in Broadway plunge
London stadium blaze postpones Kings of Leon gig
START appears to have support for U.S. Senate passage
News
Microsoft says 1.5 million Windows Phone 7s sold in 6 weeks
|
Call of Duty: Black Ops sets record for Activision
|
People can't live without high-speed Internet: poll
|
News
Venezuela tightens Internet regulation
|
Sprint CFO Bob Brust to retire, Qwest exec will replace him
|
Apple TV sales expected to rise to 1 million
News Corp wins EU approval for BSkyB bid
Lindsay Lohan being investigated for battery
|
Google eyes smaller players after Groupon-report
Kings of Leon cancel London show after fire
|
Apple's iPad helps Israeli hospital treat patients
New York's Met determines Velazquez is authentic
|
U.S. offers condolences, help after Iranian quake
South Korea army to hold huge drill, North silent
|
Microsoft said to plan new Windows for tablets
Russia investigates Bank of Moscow over loan
Foreign troop deaths in Afghan war top 700 in 2010
Iraq approves new government with Maliki as PM
|
Europe travel chaos eases but pain remains
|
Ivory Coast's Gbagbo says world can review poll
|
US Senate set to ratify Russia nuclear treaty
Warm Russian, Indian ties outlive Cold War
|
Venezuela to make lawmakers vote with their parties
|
Zsa Zsa Gabor's prince glues own eye shut
U.S. offers condolences, help after Iranian quake
|
U.N. restores gay reference to violence measure
|
Corruption "rampant" in Dominican Republic
Mass kidnap of migrants reported in Mexico
|
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
U.S. targets Zimbabwe attorney general for sanctions
Divided FCC adopts Internet rules
|
Analysis: Will Google follow Microsoft in EU probe?
|
Microsoft said to plan new Windows for tablets
|
Intel wins FTC clearance for McAfee deal
|
News
Intel says FTC approves McAfee acquisition
Obama congratulates Iraq on new government
Fears grow of euro-style debt crisis in US states
Venezuela press freedoms under threat: analysts
Europe airport chaos slammed as snow misery grows
Intel wins FTC clearance for McAfee deal
Lunar eclipse makes memorable solstice
Tessera wins round in chip patent fight
Sprint CFO Bob Brust to retire, Qwest exec will replace him
News
"Call of Duty: Black Ops" sets record for Activision
ITC to take Motorola patent case against Microsoft
News
Avatar the most pirated film of 2010
|
Russia-US treaty clears last Senate test vote
Lucasfilm settles lawsuit over hiring practices
Gwyneth Paltrow finds Country Strong a struggle
|
Parcel bomb found on Rome metro train
Little Fockers set to unseat Tron at box office
|
Lindsay Lohan investigated for rehab attack
|
Chris Brown proud he finished class on violence
|
Spider-Man stuntman injured during show
|
News
Velvet Revolver hoping to announce new singer soon
|
Lindsay Lohan investigated for rehab attack
Larry David praises tax cuts for rich in NY Times
|
Velvet Revolver hoping to announce new singer soon
Adoptive parents arrive in Haiti to fetch children
S.Korea to stage new live-fire drill near N.Korea border
News
"Avatar" the most pirated film of 2010
Larry David "praises" tax cuts for rich in NY Times
News
"Spider-Man" stuntman injured during show
'Call of Duty: Black Ops' sales top one billion dollars
Seoul shares hit 38-mth high on steelmakers, shipyards
N.Korea mounts propaganda drive to S.Korean companies
S.Korea to hike energy, minerals development by 2019
China urges North Korea to accept nuclear inspectors
Leonard Cohen inspires new scalping law in Canada
S.Korea to privatise KDB next yr, review Woori sale
Protests on last day of China envoy's Taiwan visit
S.Korean computer game addict accused of killing son
Bank of Japan holds rate steady, continues easing measures
Australia probes alleged navy drug ring
News
Pakistan
Former New Zealand PM denies Iraq troops-for-contracts claim
UK gov't hurt by business secretary's Murdoch attack
NZ current account deficit widens in Q3, but seen narrowing
US regulators approve 'net neutrality' rules
Seoul shares trade narrowly after touching 38-mth high
Seoul shares open up, Hyundai E&C shares jump
France, Germany tell nationals to leave Ivory Coast
India's Idea gives 3G network order to Nokia Siemens
France warns citizens as Ivorian crisis deepens
|
News
Greeks protest before 2011 austerity budget vote
|
News
News
Time honors AFP photographer for Afghan work
Biting winters driven by global warming: scientists
News
Activision seeks $400 million damages from EA
New Iraq cabinet starts work on 'enormous' challenges
Saudi king leaves hospital, TV shows him walking
|
Sony on track to sell 15 million PS3s in 2010/11: exec
Saudi king leaves hospital, TV shows him walking
Pakistan, Iran jockey for influence after bombings
|
News
Rio slums open for business as gangs ousted
|
Dangdang to diversify from books, plans expansion
Afghan official blasts NATO for civilian deaths
Hague confirms tit-for-tat Moscow row
Afghan Taliban reject U.N. report on civilian deaths
|
News
Deal reached on aircraft export credits: OECD
Activision seeks $400 million damages from EA
|
Analysis: Europe seen needing regulation on Internet access
|
News
Sony on track to sell 15 million PS3s in 2010/11: exec
|
Malaysia bus crash kills 28, mostly Thais
China says Vatican criticism 'imprudent', 'dangerous'
Analysis: Federal scrutiny of HP-Hurd saga inevitable
|
Medvedev wraps up India trade trip in Mumbai
Afghan parliament to convene Jan. 20
Red Hat outlook beats Wall Street view
|
Pilot error likely cause of Nepal crash that killed 18 Bhutanese
Sony warns may fall short of LCD TV sales target
Obama spy's chief appears ignorant of British plot
News
"Tron" leads weak pack of newcomers at box office
Beatles' Abbey Road crossing wins protected status
|
Taiwanese taekwondo player Yang Shu-chun banned for three months
Hyundai Motor may win bidder status for construction firm
Chinese film to star Christian Bale
|
Punch a panda! Feel good!
JAL says bamboo wheelchairs to ease security checks
Jennifer Hudson Feeling Good about weight loss
|
Pakistan to announce results of PIBs on Wednesday
China's Zhang says Bale to star in Nanjing project
S.Korea readies major military drill near tense border
Robert Gates is Man of Year at MTV college network
|
'World's first' glasses-free 3D TV hits Japan stores
Zhang says Bale to start in Nanjing film
Asylum boat orphan relatives land in Australia
Tax concessions for Vietnam shipbuilder Vinashin
Facebook CEO meets with Sina during China holiday
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights