The FCC voted today to enact new "Net Neutrality" rules. The rules include transparency for what consumers are specifically buying, while prohibiting outright blocking
of legal websites.
Many are debating what the ruling means. In the meantime, here's some text from the FCC themselves:
Rule 1: Transparency
A person engaged in the
provision of broadband Internet access service shall publicly disclose
accurate information regarding the network management practices,
performance, and commercial terms of its broadband Internet access
services sufficient for consumers to make informed choices regarding use
of such services and for content, application, service, and device
providers to develop, market, and maintain Internet offerings.
Rule 2: No Blocking
A
person engaged in the provision of fixed broadband Internet access
service, insofar as such person is so engaged, shall not block lawful
content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices, subject to
reasonable network management.
A person engaged in the provision
of mobile broadband Internet access service, insofar as such person is
so engaged, shall not block consumers from accessing lawful websites,
subject to reasonable network management; nor shall such person block
applications that compete with the provider's voice or video telephony
services, subject to reasonable network
Rule 3: No Unreasonable Discrimination
A
person engaged in the provision of fixed broadband Internet access
service, insofar as such person is so engaged, shall not unreasonably
discriminate in transmitting lawful network traffic over a consumer's
broadband Internet access service. Reasonable network management shall
not constitute unreasonable discrimination.
The rules don't cover wireless broadband providers.