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TECHNOLOGY Monday 20 March 2017

Telecom policy tilts in favor of industry under Trump’s FCC

TALI ARBEL It’s no secret President Don- president, the FCC used
AP Technology Writer ald Trump’s hand-picked those broader powers
NEW YORK (AP) — Trump- FCC chief, Ajit Pai, wants to go after “zero-rating”
ism is slowly taking hold on to cut regulations that he plans, which give subscrib-
your phone and computer, believes are holding back ers free data so long as
as newly installed federal faster, cheaper internet. they stick with their carrier’s
regulators begin chipping Pai takes special aim at net own streaming-TV service,
away at hard-fought pro- neutrality rules, which regu- like AT&T’s DirecTV Now .
tections on privacy and late broadband as a util- Zero rating may be popular
competition. ity and bar providers from with consumers — hey, free
These protections, put in playing favorites by offer- data! — but the FCC under
place during the Obama ing speedier access to, say, Obama had argued that
administration, had upset their own streaming-vid- letting internet providers
the phone and cable in- eo services. Pai considers play favorites undermines
dustries. The new regime these rules a mistake that streaming-video competi-
at the Federal Communi- slows investment in internet tion and ultimately leaves
cations Commission says infrastructure. His goal is to consumers worse off. After
consumers win if businesses expand internet access, Pai took office, the FCC
face less regulation and especially in rural areas reversed that stance and
have more incentives to where choices are limited. gave a thumbs-up to AT&T In this Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015, file photo, Federal Communica-
invest. But consumer advo- But an aggressive overhaul and other carriers with ze- tion Commission Commissioner Ajit Pai speaks during an open
hearing and vote on “Net Neutrality” in Washington.
cates worry these changes of net neutrality could be ro-rating policies. Associated Press
give broadband providers politically and legally diffi- The agency also exempt-
that own media businesses cult. For a telecom policy, ed additional smaller before using or selling your ity rules are expected to be
more power to favor their net neutrality is popular broadband providers from data. Phone and cable undone in any case.
own services, among other with consumers, drawing a net neutrality regulation companies have com- BROADBAND ACCESS AND
things. attention from comedian that required companies plained that these rules are PRISON PHONE RATES
The changes are small John Oliver and spurring to spell out their pricing, tougher than what inter- Other efforts that were in-
and easily overlooked. people to flood the FCC such as specifying how net-advertising behemoths tended to address inequi-
But they’re the first shots in with roughly 4 million com- long promotional rates like Google and Facebook ties, like the high cost of
what could turn into a full- ments (not all in support, of last and whether services face. Pai says he wants prison phone calls and
fledged war over Obama- course). A federal appeals capped monthly data us- to work with the Federal broadband for lower-in-
era “net neutrality” rules, court upheld the rules in age. Trade Commission, another come people, are seen as
which were designed to June. This may explain why Until the FCC or Congress D.C. regulator, to come up endangered.
keep phone and cable the FCC has so far opted goes full-bore on net neu- with broadband privacy The agency refused to de-
giants from favoring their for a piecemeal attack trality, the agency will likely rules that are more in line fend in court an FCC rule
own internet services and — an approach that may “stand down” from en- with the laxer standards for that capped rates for in-
apps. Overturning these continue for a while. forcing it unless there’s a internet companies. state calls made to peo-
rules would also likely re- NIBBLING AROUND THE “really extreme” violation, R e p u b l i c a n l a w m a k - ple in prison. And it has
verse a privacy measure EDGES said Marc Martin, technol- ers have proposed spiking limited the availability of
meant to keep broadband A broad attack on the ogy and telecom attorney them completely. Demo- government-subsidized in-
providers from using and landmark 2015 net neutral- with Perkins Coie. crats say that would leave ternet service for poorer
selling customer data with- ity rules is expected. But un- ONLINE PRIVACY REDO consumers vulnerable and Americans by pulling nine
out permission. der Pai, the FCC has made The agency has also allow companies like Ve- providers from a program
“Death by a thousand cuts only some tweaks to the blocked part of a broad- rizon or AT&T able to sell called Lifeline. The agen-
is a constantly overused cli- agency’s approach. These band privacy measure that consumer information cy cited concerns about
che, but that’s sort of what rules have barred broad- requires companies like to advertisers. There are fraud and waste. The FCC
they’re aiming for right band providers from block- Comcast and Verizon to vaguer privacy require- says Lifeline still had dozens
now,” said Matt Wood, the ing and slowing some web- take “reasonable mea- ments that still apply under of companies offering dis-
policy director of consumer sites and creating faster sures” to secure customer the net neutrality rules, but counted broadband as of
group Free Press, referring access for their own servic- information like financial the agency may be loath December. The FCC may
to the Republicans now in es. But the rules also gave data or web browsing his- to enforce them, Martin be open to reconsidering
power at the FCC. the FCC broader powers to tories. said. And the net neutral- its decision.q
The agency has five com- stop telecom companies The remaining privacy
missioners appointed by from hurting competition rules, which aren’t in ef-
the president and oversees and consumers in other fect yet, are now under
internet services and the ways that weren’t spelled threat. Under these rules,
broadcast industry. out. phone and cable com-
DEATH TO NET NEUTRALITY When Barack Obama was panies must ask permission