United Press International: Net neutrality bill unveiled to codify broadband Internet as essential service

July 29 (UPI) — Democrats have introduced a net neutrality bill to reclassify broadband Internet as an essential service that will also arm the federal regulator with the power to prohibit discriminatory practices.

The Democrats unveiled the bill, titled the Net Neutrality and Broadband Justice Act, on Thursday, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California arguing “everyone deserves access to affordable, high-speed Internet service.” …

The two-page bill would specifically codify broadband Internet as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Communications Act, a move that would give the Federal Communications Commission the authority to oversee broadband providers, such as AT&T and Verizon, to prohibit them from employing discriminatory practices, such as limiting communications speeds, blocking access to content or favoring some Internet content over others in exchange for payment. …

Pro-democracy organization Common Cause said the unregulated Internet since 2017 has seen providers throttle popular video streaming services and degrade video quality to force customers to pay more for better quality, as well as create monopolist plans that favor its services over others.

“This approach also weakened the FCC’s ability to ensure households remained connected during the height of the pandemic,” Yosef Getachew, Common Cause media and democracy program director, said in a statement.