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The proposed rule change, which could have a substantial effect

Jan. 8, 2018 by Elizabeth Duran

The proposed rule change, which could have a substantial effect on Internet service providers, would have allowed Internet service providers to treat internet traffic differently because of how they provide internet service to customers. The changes would have created a more competitive market, they argue, and would have made the market more transparent as providers compete to offer high-quality internet services.

While the measure is unlikely to pass, a proposal by the US Chamber of Commerce that would have required internet service providers to block websites to reduce traffic to websites that do not provide online shopping, for example, would have been a huge blow to the advocates.

The proposed rule change would have allowed internet service providers to charge a fee based on the size of an ISP's network, or the frequency of the internet traffic it provides, rather than charging a fee based on the amount of internet traffic it provides.

Although the proposal will likely pass the House in the Senate, the proposed rule change would also have created a number of other net neutrality regulations, such as requiring internet service providers to offer a minimum fee for using the internet to provide internet service.

"The internet is the lifeblood of our democracy and we will be taking this opportunity to preserve it. This is just one of a number of measures we are taking to make sure that we provide a fair and effective marketplace so that Americans have a voice in the web today," said Chris Cox, the group's director of public affairs.

The proposed rule change was a major step toward passing a major new FCC regulation that would allow internet service providers to charge fees based on how much they offer internet access to customers.