Our View: FCC takes big step for net neutrality

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler proposed new rules for net neutrality Wednesday. Wheeler said he intends to suggest the strongest open internet protections ever proposed by the FCC, which will ban paid prioritization as well as the blocking and throttling of lawful content and services, and will apply to mobile broadband for the first time.

“My proposal assures the rights of internet users to go where they want, when they want, and the rights of innovators to introduce new products without asking anyone’s permission,” Wheeler wrote in an op-ed for Wired.

Ad

This is a huge step for maintaining a free and fair internet. Under these new regulations, internet companies will no longer be able to charge more for faster connection, even on mobile devices.

We believe that Wheeler and the FCC are moving in the right direction, toward making internet access equal for all. As (mostly) young college students, we are a large population that greatly values the internet. It helps us with essays, exams and general information gathering. The internet is a place of learning for everyone, and no company should get in the way of that.

Also, Netflix.

Feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com or to @CollegianC on Twitter.