Internet companies oppose US plans to overturn net neutrality rules

Following the announcement that the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote of a draft order to roll back net neutrality rules at its December meeting, Internet companies and startups in the US have expressed disagreement with the plan. Facebook stated its disappointment that the proposed order ‘fails to maintain the strong net neutrality protections that will ensure the internet remains open for everyone’, also noting that it will work together ‘with all stakeholders committed to this principle’. Google said that the existing net neutrality rules ‘are working well’, a view which was also shared by Netflix. At the same time, a group of 1000 small companies sent a letter to the FCC stating their concern and noting that ‘without net neutrality, the incumbents who provide access to the internet would be able to pick winners or losers in the market’.