The FCC has reportedly voted to accept "Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet," a provisional set of rules meant to protect net neutrality, evoking a wide range of reactions worldwide.
According to The BBC, The controversial proposals have drawn an unprecedented level of scrutiny to the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and its vote, which was passed with three commissioners voting in favour and two against.
Protesters reportedly interrupted the meeting of the five commissioners, following which several of them were removed from the room.
Each commissioner gave his or her views on the proposal with both of the Republican commissioners opposing the new rules.
Paid prioritization, also referred to as "fast lanes" is said to be the main reason for the debate among the people.
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While the rules are meant to prevent Internet providers from intentionally slowing data, the content providers will be allowed to pay for a guaranteed fast lane of service.
People opposing the plan have raised concerns that permitting some content to be sent along a fast lane would discriminate against other content.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler believes that Section 706 is "the quickest way to make sure the protections are in place, adding that there are no protections in place right now.
However, he says that the FCC is willing to consider regulating the internet under Title II common carrier rules, as originally laid out by Congress in the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
