President Obama issued his net neutrality plan Monday, calling on the Federal Communications Commission to create rules that he said will prevent phone companies and cable firms from invading users’ privacy.
The president said his principles include no blocking by a website or service,
no deliberate slowing down or “throttling” of content, increased transparency and no linking of speed of service to levels of fees.
“The FCC is an independent agency, and ultimately this decision is theirs alone,” Mr. Obama said. “I believe the FCC should create a new set of rules protecting net neutrality and ensuring that neither the cable company nor the phone company will be able to act as a gatekeeper, restricting what you can do or see online.”
He said the proposed rules “are simple, common-sense steps that reflect the Internet you and I use every day, and that some ISPs already observe.”
“If carefully designed, these rules should not create any undue burden for ISPs,” the president said. “But combined, these rules mean everything for preserving the Internet’s openness.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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