FCC officially repeals 2015 Net Neutrality regulations by a narrow margin
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has officially repealed the 2015 net neutrality regulations by passing the Restoring Internet Freedom declaratory ruling, which opens up potential changes to the way internet service providers (ISPs) deliver service in the U.S.
Net neutrality is a set of guidelines and principles passed by the FCC under the Obama administration that were meant to preserve an open internet. It means no ISP is allowed to show preferential treatment to particular services or websites — Verizon can’t throttle Netflix speeds if the service refuses to pay more, for example, or AT&T can’t block or slow access to a site because it doesn’t like its content.
The ruling comes despite requests for a delay in voting. The 3-to-2 decision comes after 18 attorneys general asked the FCC to delay the vote to investigate fake comments that flooded the public opinion comment period this summer. Twenty-eight senators sent a letter of their own to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, asking him to push the vote and suggesting his “proposal is fundamentally flawed.” Major tech companies, nonprofit organizations, and public interest groups have rallied against the repeal over the past few months, and a recent survey found most Americans were in favor of the 2015 net neutrality regulations.
The meeting was interrupted during Pai’s speech, on the advice of security after reports of a security threat were received. The room was evacuated, security ran a search with sniffer dogs, and people returned to their seats after a few minutes.
#NetNeutrality allowed me to invent the web. If protections are scrapped, innovators will have to ask ISPs for permission to get their ideas out – a disaster for creativity. A disaster for the internet. Tell your Reps to stop the vote. https://t.co/WlTfbe9ZNg … @webfoundation
— Tim Berners-Lee (@timberners_lee) December 12, 2017
The 2015 decision classified broadband internet access service as a utility, dubbing ISPs as “common carriers” under Title II of the Communications Act. It placed these providers under close governmental scrutiny to prevent unfair internet practices, but ISPs worried the government would potentially enforce price regulations, saying the regulatory uncertainty “undermined innovation and investment.”
Pai’s declaratory ruling will only require internet providers to be “transparent about their practices.” That means an ISP could slow down or block access to a service or website — they would just have to notify them why it’s happening.
“This plan would simply restore the successful, light-touch regulatory framework that governed the internet from 1996 to 2015,” Pai said in an opinion piece. “And importantly, it would get the government out of the business of micromanaging the internet.”
Proponents of net neutrality say the repeal could potentially transition the internet into two lanes — fast and slow lanes. ISPs could offer certain websites and services at faster speeds if companies were willing to pay a little extra — this is also known as Paid Prioritization. Major companies like Google and Facebook could afford this, but it would be detrimental to startups and growing services. Also, ISP customers could end up paying more for these services.
The repeal makes these ISPs powerful gatekeepers of the internet, but the declaratory ruling also shifts the role of protecting consumers’ online privacy back to the Federal Trade Commission.
FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn issued a strong dissent during the meeting, stating the new norm at the FCC is where the majority “ignores the will of the people.”
“When the current protections are abandoned, and the rules that have been officially in place since 2015 are repealed, we will have a Cheshire cat version of net neutrality,” Clyburn said. “We will be in a world where regulatory substance fades to black, and all that is left is a broadband provider’s toothy grin and those oh-so-comforting words: ‘We have every incentive to do the right thing.’ What they will soon have is every incentive to do their own thing.”
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel echoed Clyburn’s statements, saying the decision puts the FCC on the “wrong side of history, the wrong side of the law, and the wrong side of the American public.”
“We’re told ‘don’t worry, the Federal Trade Commission will save us,’” Rosenworcel said. “But the FTC is not the expert agency for communications. It has authority over unfair and deceptive practices. But to evade FTC review, all any broadband provider will need to do is add new provisions to the fine print in its terms of service. In addition, it is both costly and impractical to report difficulties to the FTC.”
Commissioners Brendan Carr and Michael O’Rielly voted in favor of the repeal, and among many arguments, claimed the 2015 regulations harmed ISP growth. Comcast posted record profits in the second quarter of 2017.
Free Press, a nonpartisan net neutrality advocacy group, said in a report that it found “not a single publicly traded U.S. ISP ever told its investors (or the SEC) that Title II negatively impacted its own investments specifically.”
You can read our full breakdown of net neutrality to learn more.
What now?
The internet still works. Nothing about the way you interact online has changed — yet. ISPs like Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T (and the current FCC) criticized net neutrality supporters for spreading hysteria on the subject.
“Opponents of this action have responded with hyperbole, demagoguery, and even personal threats,” National Cable & Telecommunications Association CEO Michael Powell said in a statement. “New-age Nostradamuses predict the internet will stop working, democracy will collapse, plague will ensue, and locusts will cover the land. With an ounce of reflection, one knows that none of this will come to pass, and the imagined doom will join the failed catastrophic predictions of Y2K and massive snowstorms that fizzle to mere dustings — all too common in Washington, D.C. Sadly, rational debate, like Elvis, has left the building.”
Verizon, Comcast, AT&T, and other ISPs have voiced commitment to ensuring an open internet, but it all boils down to trust. Comcast already removed its public pledge to uphold net neutrality from its website earlier this year. The company said it has not entered any “paid prioritization” agreements and said it has no plans for it at the moment, but the repeal allows it to establish these measures in the future.
This story is developing.
Editors’ Recommendations
- What everyone’s saying about the FCC’s net neutrality plan (in GIF form)
- No matter where you stand, this is what you need to know about net neutrality
- The FCC will make a final vote to reverse the net neutrality rules in December
- Comcast wants the FCC to pre-empt state net neutrality laws
- Comcast removes part of its open internet pledge regarding net neutrality repeal
FCC officially repeals 2015 Net Neutrality regulations by a narrow margin
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has officially repealed the 2015 net neutrality regulations by passing the Restoring Internet Freedom declaratory ruling, which opens up potential changes to the way internet service providers (ISPs) deliver service in the U.S.
Net neutrality is a set of guidelines and principles passed by the FCC under the Obama administration that were meant to preserve an open internet. It means no ISP is allowed to show preferential treatment to particular services or websites — Verizon can’t throttle Netflix speeds if the service refuses to pay more, for example, or AT&T can’t block or slow access to a site because it doesn’t like its content.
The ruling comes despite requests for a delay in voting. The 3-to-2 decision comes after 18 attorneys general asked the FCC to delay the vote to investigate fake comments that flooded the public opinion comment period this summer. Twenty-eight senators sent a letter of their own to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, asking him to push the vote and suggesting his “proposal is fundamentally flawed.” Major tech companies, nonprofit organizations, and public interest groups have rallied against the repeal over the past few months, and a recent survey found most Americans were in favor of the 2015 net neutrality regulations.
The meeting was interrupted during Pai’s speech, on the advice of security after reports of a security threat were received. The room was evacuated, security ran a search with sniffer dogs, and people returned to their seats after a few minutes.
#NetNeutrality allowed me to invent the web. If protections are scrapped, innovators will have to ask ISPs for permission to get their ideas out – a disaster for creativity. A disaster for the internet. Tell your Reps to stop the vote. https://t.co/WlTfbe9ZNg … @webfoundation
— Tim Berners-Lee (@timberners_lee) December 12, 2017
The 2015 decision classified broadband internet access service as a utility, dubbing ISPs as “common carriers” under Title II of the Communications Act. It placed these providers under close governmental scrutiny to prevent unfair internet practices, but ISPs worried the government would potentially enforce price regulations, saying the regulatory uncertainty “undermined innovation and investment.”
Pai’s declaratory ruling will only require internet providers to be “transparent about their practices.” That means an ISP could slow down or block access to a service or website — they would just have to notify them why it’s happening.
“This plan would simply restore the successful, light-touch regulatory framework that governed the internet from 1996 to 2015,” Pai said in an opinion piece. “And importantly, it would get the government out of the business of micromanaging the internet.”
Proponents of net neutrality say the repeal could potentially transition the internet into two lanes — fast and slow lanes. ISPs could offer certain websites and services at faster speeds if companies were willing to pay a little extra — this is also known as Paid Prioritization. Major companies like Google and Facebook could afford this, but it would be detrimental to startups and growing services. Also, ISP customers could end up paying more for these services.
The repeal makes these ISPs powerful gatekeepers of the internet, but the declaratory ruling also shifts the role of protecting consumers’ online privacy back to the Federal Trade Commission.
FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn issued a strong dissent during the meeting, stating the new norm at the FCC is where the majority “ignores the will of the people.”
“When the current protections are abandoned, and the rules that have been officially in place since 2015 are repealed, we will have a Cheshire cat version of net neutrality,” Clyburn said. “We will be in a world where regulatory substance fades to black, and all that is left is a broadband provider’s toothy grin and those oh-so-comforting words: ‘We have every incentive to do the right thing.’ What they will soon have is every incentive to do their own thing.”
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel echoed Clyburn’s statements, saying the decision puts the FCC on the “wrong side of history, the wrong side of the law, and the wrong side of the American public.”
“We’re told ‘don’t worry, the Federal Trade Commission will save us,’” Rosenworcel said. “But the FTC is not the expert agency for communications. It has authority over unfair and deceptive practices. But to evade FTC review, all any broadband provider will need to do is add new provisions to the fine print in its terms of service. In addition, it is both costly and impractical to report difficulties to the FTC.”
Commissioners Brendan Carr and Michael O’Rielly voted in favor of the repeal, and among many arguments, claimed the 2015 regulations harmed ISP growth. Comcast posted record profits in the second quarter of 2017.
Free Press, a nonpartisan net neutrality advocacy group, said in a report that it found “not a single publicly traded U.S. ISP ever told its investors (or the SEC) that Title II negatively impacted its own investments specifically.”
You can read our full breakdown of net neutrality to learn more.
What now?
The internet still works. Nothing about the way you interact online has changed — yet. ISPs like Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T (and the current FCC) criticized net neutrality supporters for spreading hysteria on the subject.
“Opponents of this action have responded with hyperbole, demagoguery, and even personal threats,” National Cable & Telecommunications Association CEO Michael Powell said in a statement. “New-age Nostradamuses predict the internet will stop working, democracy will collapse, plague will ensue, and locusts will cover the land. With an ounce of reflection, one knows that none of this will come to pass, and the imagined doom will join the failed catastrophic predictions of Y2K and massive snowstorms that fizzle to mere dustings — all too common in Washington, D.C. Sadly, rational debate, like Elvis, has left the building.”
Verizon, Comcast, AT&T, and other ISPs have voiced commitment to ensuring an open internet, but it all boils down to trust. Comcast already removed its public pledge to uphold net neutrality from its website earlier this year. The company said it has not entered any “paid prioritization” agreements and said it has no plans for it at the moment, but the repeal allows it to establish these measures in the future.
This story is developing.
Editors’ Recommendations
- What everyone’s saying about the FCC’s net neutrality plan (in GIF form)
- No matter where you stand, this is what you need to know about net neutrality
- The FCC will make a final vote to reverse the net neutrality rules in December
- Comcast wants the FCC to pre-empt state net neutrality laws
- Comcast removes part of its open internet pledge regarding net neutrality repeal
Spotify is testing a sleeker and less cluttered UI for its Android app
The Spotify app has a new now playing page, search menu, and more.
Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming services around, but as great as its library of content and many features are, one thing has always left me wanting a bit more – its Android app. Spotify’s Android app is perfectly functional, but it can sometimes be a pain to navigate if you don’t know exactly where to go for what you’re looking for.
Thankfully, it looks like Spotify is testing out an updated look for its Android app that’ll make the interface less cluttered and introduce a more modern aesthetic.
In its current state, Spotify’s Android app has five navigation buttons at the bottom – Home, Browse, Search, Radio, and Your Library. With the new design, this is reduced to just three options of Your Playlists, Home, and Search. Your Playlists now shows a large button for making a new collection of songs and a list of existing ones, Home showcases recommend tunes for you to listen to, and Search now shows recommend genres and moods to browse through.
The new Spotify app on Android.
Along with this, Now Playing has also been updated to show the album cover of the song you’re listening to in full screen with larger text and tweaked placement of playback controls.
There’s no word from Spotify in regards to when these changes will be pushed to all users, but we certainly hope that this happens soon. I personally think the new design looks fantastic, and I’m interested to hear your thoughts on it. Drop a comment down below!
Best Music Streaming App for Android
Custom Snapchat Lenses can now be made on Windows and Mac with Lens Studio
Get ready for even more AR Lenses.
Snapchat’s seen more than a few updates over the years, but one of the more entertaining features it’s gained are Lenses. Lenses allow users to add 3D characters and models to their photos and videos to integrate augmented reality into their snaps, and with the launch of Lens Studio, Snapchat is allowing just about anyone to create and submit their own Lens creations.
Lens Studio is available as a free desktop application for Windows and Mac, and it’ll enable designers, students, and developers to create their own custom models and submit them to Snapchat so that other individuals can use them in the app.
After you create and submit your own Lens, you’ll be given a Snapcode that you can share digitally or physical so that other Snapchat users can scan it and then use it for themselves or share it with their friends.
If Lens Studio sounds like something you want to try your hand at, you can download the app for free here.
Snapchat’s redesigned app is here and much easier to use
Deal: Daydream View VR headset on sale for $78
Available now at Best Buy.
Google’s Daydream VR platform has grown quite a bit since its launch in October of 2016, and the best way to experience it is still with the Daydream View headset. Google released a slightly updated version of the Daydream View alongside the Pixel 2 this October, and while it came with a few new features, this also resulted in a slightly higher price of $99.
Our own Russell Holly said the new Daydream View headset was well worth its larger price tag, but if you’ve been waiting to pick one up, you can now purchase one from Best Buy for just $78.99.
That’s a saving of $20.01, and it brings the price down to the regular cost of last year’s model.
The 2017 version of the Daydream View still works fundamentally the same as the previous version, but it comes equipped with less light leak, a heat sink to keep your phone as cool as possible, a comfier head strap, and quite a bit more.
We aren’t sure how long this deal will last, so if you want to pick up a Daydream View for yourself or someone on your holiday shopping list, click/tap the button below.
See at Best Buy
Google Daydream
- Daydream View review
- The ultimate guide to Daydream
- These phones support Daydream VR
- Every Daydream app you can download
- Catch up with Daydream in the forums!
Reminder: Project Fi doesn’t offer simultaneous voice and data when connected to Sprint
Yes, this is still a thing you have to remember.
Project Fi offers a lot of flexibility when it comes to networks, with seamless switching between T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular and Wi-Fi for calling, texting and data needs. While we’ve established that the switching isn’t much to worry about and actually works quite well, the one shortcoming arrives when you go to make calls and use data at the same time when your phone is connected to the Sprint network.
Just like other modern phones that are running on Sprint proper, there’s no simultaneous voice and data support when your Project Fi phone uses the Sprint network. So if your phone is connected to the Sprint network (which by design isn’t made clear to you) and you connect a phone call, your data connection will cut out — so you can’t search for that restaurant you’re trying to book, grab tickets to the show you’re discussing, or perhaps more importantly use your laptop that is tethered to the phone at the time.
This really is only a problem because your phone won’t tell you what network you’re on.
While this isn’t any big revelation to those who have used Sprint for any length of time, it can catch Project Fi users off guard. Without the assistance of a third-party app, you don’t know whether you’re on T-Mobile, Sprint or US Cellular at any given time — and you’ll only find out that you’re about to drop your data connection for a call right when you make or receive it. That can be frustrating and confusing if you’re not aware of this limitation.
If you’re connected to the T-Mobile network the phone will keep a data connection (using VoLTE or dropping to HSPA+) during a call, but if you’re on Sprint it’ll drop out immediately. US Cellular is actually more proactive about rolling out its simultaneous voice and data, so if you happen to be connected to its network you have a good chance of not losing your data connection — but the US cellular network is dramatically smaller than Sprint’s, making it a much smaller issue to begin with.
It’s a hurdle that Google can’t really do anything about so long as it continues to let your phone automatically switch between networks — which is kind of a tentpole feature of the service. And Sprint’s sluggishness of moving to VoLTE (Voice over LTE), which would rectify this situation, isn’t helping. For now, your solution is to either make VoIP calls using the Hangouts app (yes, you can still do that), or be ready for phone calls to potentially put a pause on your data consumption.
Google Project Fi
- What is Project Fi?
- Get the latest Project Fi news
- Google Pixel 2 review
- Moto X4 review
- Discuss Project Fi in our forums
- Sign up for Project Fi!
Pandora Plus and free members can stream on-demand after watching an ad
Watch a 15-second ad, get on-demand music streaming.
Back in March, Pandora launched Pandora Premium as a way to compete more directly with the likes of Spotify and Google Play Music. One of the biggest draws to Premium is the ability to stream on-demand music alongside Pandora’s radio stations, but the streaming service is now expanding this feature to both Plus and free members as well.
For Plus and free users of Pandora, on-demand music streaming will be available after watching a 15-second advertisement. You’ll search for the song, artist, or album you’re looking for, choose that you want to watch the 15-second ad, and you’ll then be able to listen to whatever you’d like. No advertisements will play during your listening session, but if you search for something else and leave what you’re currently jamming out to, you’ll need to watch another 15-second ad before proceeding.
Premium subscribers will still retain the exclusive ability to create custom playlists and download songs for offline listening, and by giving Plus and free users a taste of what a Premium subscription has to offer, Pandora is likely hoping they’ll get more people to hand over the $9.99/month premium.
This feature will be rolling out to Pandora today, and we’re interested in your thoughts on this. If you’re a Plus or free member, do you think this will tempt you into subscribing to Pandora Premium? If you’re a Premium user, will this encourage you to step down to a Plus or free setup? Let us know in the comments section.
Spotify is testing a sleeker and less cluttered UI for its Android app
This is our first look at the Samsung Galaxy S9
Ladies and gentlemen, the Galaxy S9.
Samsung knocked it out of the park with the Galaxy S8 in 2017, and as such, expectations for the S9 are pretty high. We’ve already heard a few rumors and reports about what to expect from next year’s flagship, and now we have our first real render of what the phone will probably look like.
The folks at 91Mobiles recently partnered with OnLeaks to share the first CAD render for the S9, and although this isn’t confirmed by Samsung to be the final design of the phone, it does line up nicely with other reports that have popped up regarding it.
The overall aesthetic of the Galaxy S9 will be very similar to that of the S8, but one notable change lies with the placement of the rear fingerprint scanner. Rather than being positioned next to the camera, it’s now in a much more sensible location underneath it. Speaking of the camera, this render only shows a single sensor rather than two like what’s found on the Note 8. The single sensor should still kick out awesome photos, but if you need to be on the dual-camera bandwagon, previous reports have indicated that the Galaxy S9+ will come outfitted with two rear cameras.
As for specifications, the S9 will reportedly be powered by either the Snapdragon 845 or Samsung’s Exynos 9810 depending on where you buy the phone, possibly 6GB of RAM, Android Oreo out of the box, and we might even see a variant with as much as 512GB of internal storage.
The S9 is shaping up to be a very identical-looking phone compared to the S8, but then again, is that really a bad thing? With beefed up specs and a fingerprint sensor placement that actually makes sense, the S9 looks like it’s keeping what worked on the S8 and fixing what needed fixing.
Oh, and there’s still a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Samsung Galaxy S9: Rumors, Specs, Release Date, and More!
The next Xbox voice chat app will work on your phone
Microsoft introduced a new beta of the Xbox phone app today, which appears to include the testing of party chat on your mobile device. Presumably, this will allow you to chat with your Xbox party on your phone, similar to the way the Nintendo Switch works. While the Xbox app is available for both iOS and Android, this new beta appears to only be available at the Google Play Store.
The highlight here really is the ability to chat with your Xbox party when you’re not at a console. There isn’t anything official on this feature from Microsoft; we were first made aware of the update thanks to eagle-eyed Reddit users. Time will tell when this update will be available for iPhone owners as well.
Via: Reddit
Source: Google Play Store
FCC Has Voted to Repeal Net Neutrality Rules
The Federal Communications Commission today voted to repeal Net Neutrality rules put in place by the United States government back in 2015 under the Obama administration (via Recode). Instead of classifying internet service providers as “common carriers” under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934, the FCC has voted 3-2 in favor of rolling back to reclassifying ISPs as “information service” providers, as they were between February 1996 and February 2015.
Now, companies like AT&T, Charter, Comcast, and Verizon will be allowed to block or slow down a user’s access to certain websites, as well as potentially charge access to sites and services. The vote passed in favor under FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, along with the two other Republican commissioners Michael O’Rielly and Brendan Carr. Outvoted were Democrat commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel.
The order now adopted by the FCC today will eliminate a “utility-style regulation” of ISPs, and also removes any requirement for these companies to refrain from blocking or throttling web traffic. One requirement remaining is that telecom companies will be forced to tell customers if and when they prioritize their content over competitors, and if they don’t they could face penalties from the Federal Trade Commission.
Apple and many other large technology companies previously urged the FCC to reconsider its proposal. Those in favor of keeping ISPs classified under Title II argued that the FCC rolling back the internet’s classification as a public utility will hurt net neutrality, as it could eventually divide internet users into so-called “fast lanes” and “slow lanes.” Throughout his remarks given today, Pai said that this will not be the case.
And Pai, before the vote was final, sought to swat away his critics. “Following today’s vote,” he began, “Americans will still be able to access the websites they want to visit. They will still be able to enjoy the services they want to enjoy. There will still be cops on the beat guarding a free and open Internet.”
Apple’s comment on the topic earlier this year stated that this ruling could “fundamentally alter the internet as we know it,” and if it passed it would be put in place to the detriment of consumers, competition, and innovation. Around the same time, the FCC received a record-breaking 22 million comments from the public who voiced their opinions on the controversial issue in the months leading up to today’s vote.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Tags: net neutrality, FCC
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