Monday marked the end of net neutrality, the Obama-era policy that required internet service providers to treat all internet traffic as equal.

This rollback of regulation paves the way for internet service providers such as AT&T and Comcast to force both consumers and website owners to pay extra in order to visit their websites.

The repeal of the 2015 regulation was approved along partisan lines by the Federal Communications Commission last year, with chairman Ajit Pai, a Trump appointee, casting the deciding vote.

What is Net Neutrality?

Under the former net neutrality rules, internet service providers were required to treat all online content the same.

The ISPs were not allowed to deliberately speed up or slow down traffic from specific websites or apps, or put their own content at an advantage over rivals.

For example, Comcast could not choose to slow down a service like Netflix to make its own streaming video service more competitive, nor force Netflix to pay more money to be part of a so-called internet “fast lane.”

The FCC ruling ends these Obama-era regulations, after a 3-2 vote within the Commission. The agency also eliminated a rule barring providers from prioritizing their own content.

Fighting For An “Open Internet”

Congressman Steve Knight, R-Santa Clarita, is now working with several of his colleagues to seek a legislative solution to protect consumers while simultaneously encouraging ISPs to invest in the physical infrastructure that makes the internet possible.

“I’m disappointed in the FCC’s decision,” Knight said. “Data is data, and I believe if you pay for a specific bandwidth of internet speed, you should not be restricted from using that data stream as you best see fit.”

In December, Knight co-sponsored H.R. 4682, the Open Internet Preservation Act, which would prohibit internet service providers from blocking or throttling lawful content, data or services. That bill never made it to the House for a vote, stalling in the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

In May, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution to temporarily reverse the net neutrality cuts. But Rep. Paul Ryan, who leads the GOP in the House, has made no motion to debate the resolution in the lower chamber.
Since the FCC action, more than two dozen states, including California, have sued the FCC or proposed their own internet regulations to reinstate the neutrality rules.

“Earlier this year, we joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in suing the FCC over its illegal repeal of net neutrality rules,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. “We will continue to see that case through in the court of law, and we will continue to support efforts in California that would allow us to defend our vibrant internet economy and consumer choice.”

The “New” Internet

Only one aspect of the 2015 Open Internet Order remains in place: transparency.

A holdover from the 2015 order, the transparency rule forces broadband providers to disclose how they manage their networks to the FCC.

So if an internet provider slows down or blocks access to sites or enforces paid prioritization services, they must report that to the commission.

In theory, internet providers could choose to prioritize their own content and services over those of rival companies.

The repeal could also change how customers are billed for services. T-Mobile, for example, was criticized by net neutrality supporters for effectively making it cheaper for customers to stream videos from Netflix and HBO, while putting other video services at a disadvantage.

“Those ‘fast lanes’ will put those who won’t or cannot pay in the slow lane, making the internet look a lot like cable TV,” Gigi Sohn, a counselor to former FCC chairman Tom Wheeler, told CNNMoney.

The United States could soon follow countries like Portugal who have already reversed net neutrality.

One of Portugal’s wireless carriers, Meo, offers a package where users pay for traditional “data” for their smartphones — and on top of that, they can pay for additional packages based on the kind of data and apps they want to use.

“As a result of this inaction, starting Monday internet service providers have the power to force websites to pay fees for faster internet speeds and limit consumers’ ability to access the internet content of their choice,” said Becerra. “In this 21st century global economy, access to a free and open internet is imperative. It has become a hallmark of our American society.”

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.