The FCC’s net neutrality decision quickly drew laurels and brickbats from Netflix, legislators, consumers and internet providers.
Netflix was one of those with the praise. It said consumers got a “win” from the decision.
“Today’s order is a meaningful step towards ensuring ISPs cannot shift bad conduct upstream to where they interconnect with content providers like Netflix,” the company said in a statement.
At the same time, the company said the FCC needs to be vigilant in enforcement.
“Net neutrality rules are only as strong as their weakest link, and it’s incumbent on the FCC to ensure these interconnection points aren’t used to end-run the principles of an open Internet,” Netflix said.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak was caught on camera applauding following the vote and posted on Twitter that he “had to be there.”
We had to be there. (@ Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – @fccdotgov in Washington, DC) https://t.co/zrdLCk9tID
— Steve Wozniak (@stevewoz) February 26, 2015
“This is a victory for the people … the consumers, the average Joe’s against the big suppliers who have all the power and the wealth and make the decisions for them,” Wozniak told Bloomberg TV. “They feel hopeless and helpless. I see it as an indication that the people can sometimes win.”
Also pleased were musicians.
Future of Music Coalition CEO Casey Rae called the FCC vote “an incredible moment.”
“This historic day is a testament to what can be achieved when the creative community comes together with a diverse array of advocates and activists to stand up for free expression and entrepreneurship," Rae said.
The action drew far less favorable reviews from Internet service providers, the consumer electronics industry and Republican legislators.
Michael Powell, a former FCC chairman who is now president and CEO of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, called the FCC’s action “one of the most regulatory steps in its history.
A translation of the statement issued in PDF format included old-typewriter-style font.
"The Federal Communications Commission approved an order urged by President Obama that imposes rules on broadband Internet services that were written in the era of the steam locomotive and the telegraph," the statement began.
"Today’s decision by the FCC to encumber broadband Internet services with badly antiquated regulations is a radical step that presages a time of uncertainty for consumers, innovators and investors. Over the past two decades a bipartisan, light- touch policy approach unleashed unprecedented investment and enabled the broadband Internet age consumers now enjoy," said Michael E. Glover, Verizon senior vice president, public policy and government affairs, in the statement.
"The FCC’s move is especially regrettable because it is wholly unnecessary," Glover continued. "The FCC had targeted tools available to preserve an open Internet, but instead chose to use this order as an excuse to adopt 300-plus pages of broad and open-ended regulatory arcana that will have unintended negative consequences for consumers and various parts of the Internet ecosystem for years to come."
MPAA, which has repeatedly declined to take a position on reclassification said its main concern with net neutrality is whether it could impact piracy and copyright infringement.
"The MPAA member studios, like everyone, want to see the Internet continue to flourish," said an MPAA spokesman. "Our narrow focus throughout the network neutrality debate has been to ensure that the rules do not thwart efforts to prevent copyright infringement, or otherwise chill production and distribution of innovative content. Until we see the order we cannot know for sure, but the FCC has previously indicated that it would continue to make clear that the rules do not apply to unlawful transmission of content, and would refrain from regulating parties on the edge of the Internet, such as content creators."
Producers Guild of America Co-Presidents Gary Lucchesi and Lori McCreary issued the following statement in support of the FCC ruling:
"The Producers Guild of America applauds the FCC's recently announced regulations supporting net neutrality. We believe that the FCC's approach is realistic and provides producers of creative content with a powerful affirmation that internet distribution channels will remain equally and fairly accessible to all services, voices and perspectives," Lucchesi and McCreary said.
TheWrap will continue to update this post with responses to the FCC's action.
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