BIDDEFORD — Currently, all Internet content providers have a relatively even playing field in terms of the speed with which their content can connect to someone’s home.
But proposed rules released Thursday by the Federal Communications Commission could change that.
The new rules would allow an Internet Service Provider to charge content providers to grant them faster speed service, which could end up costing consumers subscribing to paid online services more.
The CEO of a local ISP said Thursday he fears that the new rules could be a hindrance to the innovation seen over the last 20 to 30 years, which has brought about such new technologies as smartphones, tablets and robotics.
Although he hasn’t studied the issue, said Fletcher Kittredge, founder of the Biddeford-based GWI, said, “My gut instinct is this is really bad.”
“This came out of the blue to me,” he said. “It’s a huge change in the direction we’ve been going.
“We could be killing a system that’s served us well for many years,” said Kittredge.
U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, is also critical of the proposed new rules.
“This is a blow to a free and open Internet and will have serious, long-term consequences,” Pingree said in a prepared statement Thursday. “The FCC is making the wrong call in this case, and now it’s up to Congress to do the right thing and pass legislation that guarantees the Internet treats all traffic equally.”
Pingree, a cosponsor of a bill that would guarantee the principle of net neutrality, said the reported FCC decision is another reason why the merger of Comcast and Time Warner will be bad for consumers and bad for Internet freedom.
“This decision would give big Internet providers the right to discriminate against certain content providers by charging them more. That means a new Comcast/Time Warner would be in a perfect position to crush competitors like Netflix simply because they own the connections to so many homes,” Pingree said.
— The Associated Press contributed to this story. Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or [email protected].
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less