Obama’s FCC Takes Over The Internet

In a 3-to-2 vote held Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission gave itself the power to enforce strict new net neutrality rules on telecommunications companies.

Net Neutrality allows the federal government, under the Title II of the Communications Act, to treat the Internet and Internet service providers as a utility, banning data providers from establishing paid “fast lanes” on the Internet and the intentional throttling or slowing down of data speeds.

The new FCC regulations are an excuse for more government control over the internet. Today’s vote will allow the feds to eventually do to the near-perfect and free internet what they’ve done to Amtrak. Or Healthcare. or Banking.

Republican Commissioner Ajit Pai said the FCC’s plan is a “monumental shift” to “government control of the Internet.”

“The order explicitly opens the door to billions of dollars in new taxes,” Pai said. “Read my lips: More new taxes are coming. It’s just a matter of when.”

Pai pointed to slower Internet speeds in Europe, where the Internet is governed like a public utility, and said the new regulations will result in less investment and slower speeds in the U.S. as well.

“The Internet is not broken. There is no problem for the government to solve,” Pai said.

Despite the sure possibility of more court challenges, the FCC’s new regulations are expected to begin being implemented in a few short months.