In accordance with the net neutrality principle, Internet service providers (ISP) would be obligated to treat all the data equally and would be prohibited from blocking different Web sites and services. At the same time the measure will also restrain the American ISPs from offering tiered broadband services forcing content providers to pay money for priority web traffic.
More Web regulation would jeopardize the global Internet freedom and would inevitably put the US in an awkward position, they say, stressing that while Washington is promoting a "hands-off" approach towards the Internet worldwide, it is going at the same time to impose restrictions over the Web at home.
The proponents of net neutrality insist there is a clear distinction between internet access and the content distributed over the Web, elaborating that the new regulation aims to provide equal opportunity for all market players and does not cover the issues of content or services delivered through the Internet.
Reportedly, the US telecoms are spending millions in political contributions for the election and reelection campaigns of congressmen tasked with supervising the FCC. For instance, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association spent about $6.6 million last year, while Verizon – $6.3 million, AT&T and Comcast – under $8 million, reports say. At the same time the US tech giants also poured lots of money in lobbying in 2014: Comcast spent $12 million, AT&T – $11m and Verizon – $10 million.