Pres. Obama calls for Title II reclassification to protect an open Internet

Today President Barack Obama urged the FCC to adopt strong rules to protect an open Internet by reclassifying consumer broadband services under Title II of the Telecommunications Act.

"So the time has come for the FCC to recognize that broadband service is of the same importance and must carry the same obligations as so many of the other vital services do," Obama said in a statement carried on the White House website. "To do that, I believe the FCC should reclassify consumer broadband service under Title II of the Telecommunications Act — while at the same time forbearing from rate regulation and other provisions less relevant to broadband services."

"This is a basic acknowledgment of the services ISPs provide to American homes and businesses, and the straightforward obligations necessary to ensure the network works for everyone — not just one or two companies," Obama said.

Obama also called for ​rules that would include ​an "explicit ban" on so-called paid prioritization, ​as well as a ban on blocking and throttling Internet content.

President Obama Urges FCC to Implement Stronger Net Neutrality Rules (The White House, November 10, 2014)