{"id":339193,"date":"2017-04-25T06:53:01","date_gmt":"2017-04-24T22:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/techcrunch.com\/?p=1480571"},"modified":"2017-04-25T06:53:01","modified_gmt":"2017-04-24T22:53:01","slug":"fcc-chairman-will-address-the-future-of-net-neutrality-on-wednesday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/fcc-chairman-will-address-the-future-of-net-neutrality-on-wednesday\/","title":{"rendered":"FCC chairman will address the future of net neutrality on Wednesday"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

So it begins: FCC Chairman Ajit Pai appears to be showing his cards regarding his promised rollback of net neutrality rules. He is slated to speak on \u201cthe future of internet regulation\u201d on Wednesday, Reuters reported<\/a> today.<\/p>\n

TechCrunch confirmed with the FCC that a talk is taking place, although the topic was not officially disclosed. Pai previously said at Mobile World Congress<\/a> in Barcelona that he considers the FCC\u2019s approach to regulating the internet heavy-handed and old-fashioned.<\/p>\n

But unlike the Broadband Privacy Rule, which could be repealed under the Congressional Review Act, and the zero-rating inquiries, which were merely advisory to begin with, the 2015 Open Internet Order is a major standing piece of regulation, one that can\u2019t be waved away. This talk could be the first time the chairman addresses specifically how he plans to dismantle net neutrality and the other rules announced two years ago.<\/p>\n

Given the structure of the Order and the hints Pai has given, one possible strategy is that he will question former Chairman Tom Wheeler\u2019s justification for using the stronger Title II authority, rather than the Title I under which broadband services have generally been classed, as a basis for net neutrality.<\/p>\n

By challenging that authority as illegitimate, Pai can characterize his move to remove the rules as slapping the wrist of an overreaching agency, even though the effects of that slap will be far-reaching. If he declines to exert Title II authority or has it officially stripped in this case, the rules will be effectively moot; imagine having laws but no police. New rules, and perhaps good ones, could be put in their place, but any such proposal will take months at the least, during which time net neutrality rules will simply not be enforced.<\/p>\n

This hypothetical approach will still likely require a great deal more time and care than that required to rescind the Privacy Rule, which hadn\u2019t yet taken effect and fell under the effective date range of the CRA.<\/p>\n

The event is sponsored by FreedomWorks, a right-leaning libertarian organization that has called for the abolition of Obamacare \u2014 and apparently also copyright, since I just noticed they used one of our illustrations without permission<\/a>. (It\u2019s probably just a mistake; I\u2019ve contacted them about it.)<\/p>\n

The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council<\/a>, which has applauded all the FCC\u2019s recent actions, including the repeal of the Broadband Privacy Rule, is also a sponsor. I contacted both for comment and will update this post if I hear back.<\/p>\n

Featured Image: Tom Williams\/CQ Roll Call\/Getty Images<\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"\" So it begins: FCC Chairman Ajit Pai appears to be showing his cards regarding his promised rollback of net neutrality rules. He is slated to speak on “the future of internet regulation” on Wednesday. Pai previously said at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that he considers the FCC’s approach to regulating the internet heavy-handed and old-fashioned. Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

\n<\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a>\n<\/div>\n

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