Why Does AT&T Want Congress To Pass Net Neutrality Rules?

The telecom giant famously opposed the Obama-era FCC when it mandated that service providers treat all Internet traffic the same.

By Alain StephensJanuary 25, 2018 2:27 pm,

The end is near for net neutrality. So say the warnings, banner ads and countless tech user forums where fear of the end of net neutrality is palpable, now that the FCC has voted to get rid of rules that mandate it.

Net neutrality is the idea that Internet service providers shouldn’t be able to throttle or charge more for access to certain websites or certain Internet uses like gaming, or streaming movies. The FCC’s move was said to benefit the large communications companies. So why is one of those telecom giants urging new net neutrality laws?

Digital savant Omar Gallaga of the Austin American-Statesman’s 512 Tech says AT&T’s CEO Randall Stephenson wrote an open letter this week, urging the federal government to pass consistent laws that foster net neutrality, rather than making periodic changes to the rules.

“It comes across as a little disingenuous, since AT&T has lobbied against some of these rules itself,” Gallaga says. “The Obama-era rules about net neutrality, AT&T fought them tooth and nail.”

What you’ll hear in this segment:

– How AT&T and other Internet providers steer customers to services they favor

– How the company’s open letter takes aim at its rivals

– Which company “won the week” when it comes to explaining net neutrality

– What actions state governments are taking to push back against the FCC’s rule change

 

Written by Shelly Brisbin.