Net neutrality - live updates: Politicians prepare to fight against FCC's decision to scrap rules protecting internet freedoms
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Your support makes all the difference.The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under the direction of President Trump, has voted to repeal Obama-era rules governing net neutrality.
The five-person board has voted in favour of ending net neutrality, a decision that could have a huge effect on the way the internet works.
Supporters of net neutrality say the move could open the door for internet service providers (ISPs) to charge customers more and dictate what people use the internet for.
Please allow a moment for the live blog to load.
Immediately after the vote, Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson said he intended to file a legal challenge against the vote. It is unlikely to be the last.
ISPs greeted the news warmly, but Senator Ed Markey a Democrat from Massachusetts said he would be looking to introduce an act in Congress calling for a review of the FCC decision. he labelled it a "historic mistake".
Commissioner Rosenworcel: “Here in the United States, our internet economy is the envy of the world. this is because it rests on a foundation of openness. that openness is revolutionary. It means you can go where you want and do what you want online.
“Without your broadband provider getting in the way or making choices for you. It means every one of us can create without permission, build communities beyond geography, organize without physical constraints, consume content we want, when and where we want it, and share ideas not just around the corner but across the globe.
“I believe it is essential we sustained this foundation of openness and that is why I support net neutrality.”
Commissioner Rosenworcel: “As a result of today's misguided action, our broadband providers will get extraordinary new powers. They will have the power to block websites, the power to throttle services and the power to censor online content.
“They will have the right to discriminate and favored the internet traffic of those companies with whom they have a pay for pay arrangement and the right to consign all others to a slow and bumpy road.
“Our broadband providers will tell you they will never do these things, they say just trust us.
“But know this, they have the technical ability and business incentive to discriminate and manipulate your internet traffic and now this agency gives them the legal green light to go ahead and do so. This is not good.”
Commissioner Rosenworcel: “I'm not going to give up. and neither should you.
”If you are conservative or progressive you benefit from internet openness. If you come from a small town or a big if you are a startup or an established you benefit from internet openness. If you are a consumer or a creator, you benefit from internet openness.And if you believe in democracy you benefit from internet openness.
“So let's persist, let's fight, let's not stop here or now. It is too important. The future depends on it.”
Commissioner Pai’s turn to speak now: “The main complaint the consumers have about the internet is not and has never been that they are server providers blocking access to content. It’s that they don't have access at all or not enough competition.
“These regulations have ironically taken us in the opposite direction from consumer preferences. Under Title II investment in high-speed network has declined by billions of dollars. Notably this is the first time such investment has declined outside of a recession in the internet era.
“When there's less investment that means fewer next-generation networks are built. that means less access and less competition.”
On advice of security, commissioner Pai says they're having to take a "brief" recess.
It isn't clear what's going on, but the live stream has been cut off.
Just after Pai announced the recess, the microphones in the room picked up what appeared to be the voice of a security officer, telling people not to take anything with them.
The security officer who called the recess said: “Everyone, I need everyone to leave everything that you have in place. Do not take anything out of here except for your body. Do not take any bags, any books or anything.”
The meeting is resuming. Commissioner Pai takes the mic again, saying, "Sorry for the interruption. We were acting on the recommendation of security.”
Commissioner Pai: “What is the FCC doing today? Quite simply we are restoring the light touch framework that is governed the internet for most of its existence. We are moving from Title II to Title I.
Commissioner Pai: “Simply put, by returning to the light touch Title I framework we are helping consumers and promoting competition. Broadband providers will have stronger incentives to build networks especially in unserved areas and to upgrade networks to gigabit speeds and 5G.
“Which means there will be more competition among broadband providers. It also means more ways startups and tech giants alike can deliver applications and content to more users.”
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