The so-called assault on the internet will commence real soon. This is what many believe will be the gist of U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Ajit Pai's announcement this coming Wednesday.
Pai will deliver his speech titled "The Future of Internet Regulation" on April 26 in Washington. The focus of his speech will be his strategy regarding the landmark net neutrality rules which were approved during the term of former President Barrack Obama in 2015.
According to sources cited by Reuters, Pai is set to voice out his opposition on the subject once more. The FCC head is not expected to offer a new set of regulations to replace the existing yet doomed net neutrality rules. Instead, he will supposedly use the opportunity to gather opinions and ideas from the public as well as from major players in the tech industry. The commission will have an initial vote on Pai's proposal during the FCC's May 18 meeting.
The net neutrality rules require broadband providers to give equal access to content and applications to everyone. It aims to prevent discrimination through differences in charging rates and by withholding fast internet connection. In simple words, internet service providers such as Comcast, AT&T, Charter, and Verizon are not allowed to slow down or block internet traffic. As such, the net neutrality rules favor the consumers but not the big businesses involved in the internet industry.
Pai was named by Donald Trump as the chairman of the FCC last January. Even before he was appointed by Trump, Pai was seen as a crusader against the net neutrality rules. He did indicate, however, that he supports a "free and open internet" and that he is more open to having a set of rules that is "more voluntary in nature" as described by Recode. He also emphasized that he is opposed to Title II which the Obama government utilized to succeed in implementing the net neutrality rules.
