FCC to Propose Controversial New Rules on Net Neutrality The new rules would reportedly allow ISPs to charge content providers for a faster, separate pipeline into customers' homes, effectively ending net neutrality.

By Benjamin Kabin

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

The Federal Communications Commission is about to propose new rules today that could change the internet as we know it.

Under the new rules, internet service providers (ISPs) will reportedly be allowed to charge content providers to use a faster, premium broadband service that bypasses regular traffic. That means companies like Netflix, Apple and Amazon can buy preferred treatment from the likes of Comcast and Time Warner Cable.

Related: Netflix and Comcast Strike a Deal, With a Bit of Mystery

Practically speaking, the change might improve streaming audio and video experiences from big players like YouTube, owned by Google, and the popular music video hub Vevo. On the flip side, smaller content providers who can't afford to pay to play might see their content continue to lag with degraded quality even though the proposed rules prevent ISPs from blocking and slowing content.

The FCC has also reportedly decided, at least for now, against classifying ISPs as public utilities, which would subject them to much heavier regulations.

Critics are calling the proposal a blow to net neutrality, a concept that users should have equal access to all internet content and that no content providers should be discriminated against.

Related: U.S. Court of Appeals Overturns Net Neutrality

"The FCC is aiding and abetting the largest ISPs in their efforts to destroy the open internet," said Craig Aaron, president and CEO of Free Press, a digital rights advocacy group. "Giving ISPs the green light to implement pay-for-priority schemes will be a disaster for startups, nonprofits and everyday Internet users who cannot afford these unnecessary tolls."

In response to reports that the proposed rules will kill net neutrality, FCC chairman Tom Wheeler issued a statement on Wednesday calling the reports "flat-out wrong."

"As with the original Open Internet rules, and consistent with the court's decision, behavior that harms consumers or competition will not be permitted," Wheeler said.

The proposal will be put to a vote on May 15.

Related: Democrats Introduce Legislation to Restore 'Open Internet' Rules

Benjamin Kabin

Journalist

Benjamin Kabin is a Brooklyn-based technology journalist who specializes in security, startups, venture capital and social media.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

'Unprecedented in Our 53-Year History': Southwest Airlines Announces Its First Mass Layoffs Ever

The airline is eliminating 15% of its corporate workforce, including many in senior leadership positions.

Side Hustle

This 30-Year-Old's $6,000-a-Month Side Hustle Started Making Money 'Immediately' — But He's Not Quitting His Day Job

Derrick Mathy works in orthopedic surgical device sales and is on a mission to bring people together in real life.

Business News

Elon Musk's xAI Claims Its New Grok 3 AI Is Better Than ChatGPT and DeepSeek: 'Seeing the Beginnings of Creativity'

xAI debuted the new AI on Monday, claiming it has 10 times the computational power of Grok 2.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Franchise

Sam The Concrete Man is North America's #1 Residential Concrete Franchise

Sam The Concrete Man franchisees have the flexibility of working from home in the high demand residential concrete industry.

Business Models

How This Luxury Retail Store Builds 100-Year-Relationships with Its Customers

Brent Polacheck, owner of Polacheck's Jewelers, is proving that in an era of instant gratification, the art of generational relationship-building still drives retail success.