FCC Approves Net Neutrality Rules to Protect the Open Internet
This has huge implications for games and video game consoles specifically. It guarantees that internet service providers won’t be able to charge extra for access to Twitch, game downloads, or an MMO – services that can use quite a bit of bandwidth. The decision will also apply to mobile internet providers, affecting the smartphone service plans that guarantee a certain amount of high-speed data before throttling it.
"The action that we take today is an irrefutable reflection of the principle that no one, whether government or corporate, should control free and open access to the internet," Wheeler said.
Up until last year, the FCC prevented Internet providers from prioritizing one type of content over any other. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit struck that down however, prompting the FCC to change the way the government treats broadband internet access entirely. These new rules provide much stronger tools to maintain what proponents of net neutrality consider to be a free and open internet.
And also pretty important
The government is making moves to get us on the road to more wide spread and quality broadband infrastructure. As mentioned before this can be big for gaming. More people having fast enough internet for game streaming, less people that will be excluded by always on services etc etc. The future is almost here!
I must admit that I am wrong and that I'm surprised. I've never followed or supported net neutrality because I've always assumed "Big Internet" as it were would just purchase the politicians necessary to get what they want. A doomed, hopeless cause because I have no faith in the American government to do what's right for the people.
I'm pleased to say that I'm wrong...and suspicious as to how this can be used against us.
edited 26th Feb '15 9:33:49 PM by Rotpar
Indeed, some are suspicious that an entity as big as the FCC is taking control of this so quickly. Time will tell if those people's worries are justified or not.
Or Stewie Griffin the time or two he's gotten drunk or thought he has.