The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced the official expiry date for net neutrality rules in the United States – June 11. New regulations will give internet service providers broad new powers over how consumers can access the internet, Reuters reports.
In December, the FCC repealed the internet rules set in 2015 by the Obama administration, which would not allow providers from blocking or slowing down access to content or charging more money for certain content or websites. These were meant to ensure a free and open internet, to which everyone had equal access.
The new rules will allow providers to favour their own materials, and they will have to tell consumers whether they will block or slow content or offer paid “fast lanes”.
Comcast, Verizon and AT&T have all pledged not to block or discriminate against legal content after net neutrality rules expire.
22 states have sued in an attempt to block the new rules, and the Senate is expected to vote in the following weeks and possibly reject the December repeal.
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