FCC Repeals US Net Neutrality in Major Blow to Internet

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday voted 3-to-2 in favor of rescinding rules that aimed to ensure a free and open internet. Commonly referred to as the net neutrality rule, the FCC’s decision marks a major change to how the Internet reaches people. The US government’s net neutrality policy was first enacted by former US President Barack Obama’s administration in order to prevent Internet service providers (ISP) from applying different rules depending on the data they were transferring, DW reported.

The FCC’s decision on Thursday means that the ISPs such as Verizon, AT&T and Comcast can now determine how consumers access web content as long as they disclose how they limit online traffic and to which web services or sites.