President Obama Pushes for FCC to Reclassify Broadband as Utility

The FCC’s “hybrid” net neutrality plan has not went down well with any sectors, with broadband companies threatening to sue and public advocacy groups calling the proposal a step backwards, with the potential to create pay-roads on the Internet.

Another critic of the current proposal is U.S. President Barack Obama, currently in China. The administration made a video with President Obama discussing how he backs net neutrality, and wants the FCC to enact Title II common carrier reclassification of broadband services.

Title II reclassification would stop broadband companies from giving services like Netflix unfair disadvantage on speeds and promote innovation and competition on data-speeds, something ISPs have not done in close to half-a-decade. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has already stated Title II is not out of the picture, but in the recent hybrid proposal, the independent agency did not state anywhere they would enact it. President Obama would like to see it enacted for broadband and wireless networks.

This is an interesting statement from President Obama. Most groups agree broadband should be reclassified under Title II, but President Obama is one of the first to say wireless networks should receive the same fate. The wireless market, while not incredibly competitive, already offers rates higher than broadband at 150Mbps. Even though normal speeds in New York rarely hit over 15Mbps, it still matches speeds for broadband providers in New York, who cannot manage to surpass 50Mbps, even though their promotional market promises even higher numbers.

With the amount of people using their mobile phones to watch video and browse the Web, it might be a safe move for the FCC to also reclassify wireless networks under Title II common carrier – to avoid the same sort of collusion and anti-consumer attitude in the near future. We are already seeing plans to install perma-cookies onto customers phones for Verizon Wireless and AT&T – showing they intend to profit of advertisements – not content with the high monthly phone bill.