Begin forwarded message:
> From: Ahmed ElHefnawy <[email protected]> > Subject: Open Internet | FCC.gov > Date: May 2, 2013 9:41:28 PM GMT+02:00 > To: Ahmed ElHefnawy <[email protected]> > > > http://www.fcc.gov/openinternet > > Open Internet > > The “Open Internet” is the Internet as we know it. It’s open because it uses > free, publicly available standards that anyone can access and build to, and > it treats all traffic that flows across the network in roughly the same way. > The principle of the Open Internet is sometimes referred to as “net > neutrality.” Under this principle, consumers can make their own choices about > what applications and services to use and are free to decide what lawful > content they want to access, create, or share with others. This openness > promotes competition and enables investment and innovation. > > The Open Internet also makes it possible for anyone, anywhere to easily > launch innovative applications and services, revolutionizing the way people > communicate, participate, create, and do business—think of email, blogs, > voice and video conferencing, streaming video, and online shopping. Once > you’re online, you don’t have to ask permission or pay tolls to broadband > providers to reach others on the network. If you develop an innovative new > website, you don’t have to get permission to share it with the world. > > The FCC does not regulate Internet content or applications. To the contrary, > the purpose of Open Internet rules is to clarify high-level, flexible rules > of the road for broadband to ensure that no one—not the government and not > the companies that provide broadband service—can restrict innovation on the > Internet. > > Open Internet Rules > > The FCC has adopted three basic open Internet rules: > > Transparency. Broadband providers must disclose information regarding their > network management practices, performance, and the commercial terms of their > broadband services. > No blocking. Fixed broadband providers (such as DSL, cable modem, or fixed > wireless providers) may not block lawful content, applications, services, or > non-harmful devices. Mobile broadband providers may not block lawful > websites, or applications that compete with their voice or video telephony > services. > No unreasonable discrimination. Fixed broadband providers may not > unreasonably discriminate in transmitting lawful network traffic over a > consumer’s broadband Internet access service. Unreasonable discrimination of > network traffic could take the form of particular services or websites > appearing slower or degraded in quality. > In addition, in the Open Internet Report and Order the Commission recognizes > that an open, robust, and well-functioning Internet requires that broadband > providers have the flexibility to manage their networks, including but not > limited to efforts to block spam and ensure that heavy users don’t crowd out > other users. For this reason, the no blocking and no discrimination rules are > subject to reasonable network management. > > With respect to mobile broadband, the Open Internet R&O for the first time > adopt industry-wide rules to protect openness for consumers and innovators > alike. The Open Internet R&O also recognizes that mobile broadband presents > special considerations, including the fact that it is rapidly evolving and > has differences from fixed broadband in market structure and technological > constraints. And one of the largest mobile providers is now offering 4G > mobile broadband service using wireless spectrum subject to openness rules > the Commission imposed in 2007. For those reasons, in the Open Internet R&O > the Commission takes measured steps to protect openness for mobile broadband, > requiring providers to comply with the transparency rule, and prohibiting > them from blocking websites or from blocking applications that compete with > the provider’s voice or video telephony services. > > The History of the Open Internet Proceeding > > In 2005, on the same day it re-classified DSL service and effectively reduced > the regulatory obligations of DSL providers, the FCC announced its unanimous > view that consumers are entitled to certain rights and expectations with > respect to their broadband service, including the right to: > > access the lawful Internet content of their choice; > run applications and use services of their choice, subject to the needs of > law enforcement; > connect their choice of legal devices that do not harm the network; and > competition among network providers, application and service providers, and > content providers. > On October 22, 2009, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to > seek public input on draft rules that would codify and supplement existing > principles to safeguard the Internet’s openness. After holding a series of > open workshops and reviewing the extensive record of public comments, on > December 21, 2010, the Commission adopted the Open Internet R&O, which > establishes three high-level rules to preserve the free and open Internet. > The Open Internet R&O became effective on November 20, 2011. > > Emergency Considerations and Safety and Security Authorities > > The Open Internet R&O makes clear that nothing in the rules supersedes any > obligation a broadband Internet access service provider may have – or limits > its ability – to deliver emergency communications, or to address the needs of > law enforcement, public safety, or national security authorities, consistent > with applicable law. In addition, nothing in the rules prohibits reasonable > efforts by a broadband provider to address copyright infringement or other > unlawful activity. > > Filing a Complaint > > If you think there has been a violation of the open Internet rules, you can > file a complaint with the FCC. To facilitate our processing of your > complaint, it would be helpful if you include the following information: > > Whether the broadband service at issue is fixed (such as DSL or cable modem) > or mobile. If you are not sure, please provide as much information as you can > about how you access Internet through your provider. For example, do you > access the Internet only in your home, or are you able to access the Internet > through your provider outside the home? > The category of the open Internet violation. Note the three categories set > forth above: (1) transparency; (2) blocking; and (3) unreasonable > discrimination. > > Report and Order: Preserving the Open Internet [pdf] > > > Consumer Guide > > > > Workshops and Speeches Archive > > > > Archive of OpenInternet.gov [.zip file] > > > > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "OpenEgypt" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
