There's a new dividing line in the net neutrality debate.
A muddled issue is suddenly clearer after President Obama announced on Monday that he is firmly in support of a plan for stringent net neutrality -- known as reclassification.
The stance is a straightforward plan that has complex ramifications. Obama supports the notion that the Federal Communications Commission should consider landline Internet service in a similar way to other utilities, meaning the regulator would have far more power to enforce net neutrality regulations. He fleshed this plan out in a Medium post.
This plan had already been a flashpoint among the various groups involved in the Internet regulation debate. Obama's addition has made that split even more clear.
Pro-regulation: the president, content companies and consumer groups
I'm urging the @FCC to keep the internet open and free. Here's my plan to protect #NetNeutrality for everyone: http://t.co/3y3YLQD6MB –bo— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 10, 2014
Reclassification can now count Obama among its supporters, but it had plenty before. Netflix has been one of the most vocal companies in support of reclassification.
Netflix pr: "A bold move by the President. Consumers should pick broadband winners and losers on the Internet, not broadband gatekeepers."— Peter Kafka (@pkafka) November 10, 2014
The move also has relatively broad support among other Democrats.
I applaud President Obama’s leadership on #NetNeutrality. We must ensure fair & equal access to the Internet! http://t.co/g87LMKT67c— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) November 10, 2014
Numerous websites and Internet-based companies have come out in support of reclassification.
We stand for the open Web & are thrilled to hear @WhiteHouse's plan to protect #NetNeutrality on our 10th anniversary http://t.co/JqyPD1fRBC— Firefox (@firefox) November 10, 2014
Internet watchdogs such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation are also ardently in favor of the plan.
President Obama gets it right with net neutrality, but will the @FCC? https://t.co/gR9q7E0Dhs— EFF (@EFF) November 10, 2014
Anti-regulation: ISPs, Republicans, libertarian think tanks
There is firm opposition against reclassification. Internet service providers have come out broadly against the plan.
Comcast issued a statement:
"This would be a radical reversal that would harm investment and innovation, as today's immediate stock market reaction demonstrates. And such a radical reversal of consistent contrary precedent should be taken up by the Congress," Comcast executive vice president David Cohen said.
AT&T also did not mince words.
AT&T slams Obama’s net neutrality plan as one that will do “tremendous harm” http://t.co/e9svIEgzj3 pic.twitter.com/QEVAHsyzRH— Dustin Volz (@dnvolz) November 10, 2014
Republicans have generally opposed efforts to more broadly regulate the Internet. The initial proposal, which is far more lenient on ISPs and would theoretically allow for companies to violate net neutrality, passed the FCC by a vote of 3-2, with both conservative commissioners voting against it. With reclassification being an even more aggressive move, it is to be expected that the conservative commissioners will remain in opposition.
Senator Ted Cruz was the loudest Republican voice to immediately oppose the plan, making a comparison to the president's health care law.
"Net Neutrality" is Obamacare for the Internet; the Internet should not operate at the speed of government.— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) November 10, 2014
John Boehner, a Republican congressman from Ohio and Speaker of the U.S. House of representatives, also tweeted his opposition.
Republicans will continue our efforts to stop this misguided scheme to regulate the #Internet: http://t.co/O7yNrTZoQs #jobs— Speaker John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) November 10, 2014
Various industry group also came out against the plan. The president of USTelecom, the telecom's industry's trade association, called the plan "contrary to the best interests of the nation and America’s technology future." The Telecommunications Industry Association's CEO said reclassification "would set the industry back decades."
Tech Freedom, a libertarian technology think tank, said Obama's plan "cynically exploits confusion" and called for the president to work with Congress on new legislation to regulate the Internet.
The third way
A smaller, but still important, group isn't necessarily for or against reclassification. Some experts say that the Internet does need some regulation, but that attempting to apply older laws is not the right answer.
Without re-writing Title II language, classifying ISPs under Title II won't fix anything. We need NEW laguage, not old reclassification.— Dan Rayburn (@DanRayburn) November 10, 2014