PoliticsNet NeutralityTom Wheeler Politics

Here Are The Obama Administration's Net Neutrality Rules

Here Are The Obama Administration's Net Neutrality Rules
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Senior Reporter, HuffPost

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President Barack Obama speaks at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Tuesday, March 10, 2015, about his plan to clamp down on the private companies that service federal student debt. More than 40 million Americans are in debt thanks to their education, and most of their loans come from Uncle Sam. So President Barack Obama is aiming to clamp down on the private companies that service federal student debt with a presidential memorandum he signed Tuesday. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday released the full text of its net neutrality rules, detailing how the agency plans to ensure the Internet remains free and open.

The FCC voted last month along party lines to approve the net neutrality plan put forth by Chairman Tom Wheeler. Open Internet advocates lauded the decision, saying it gives the government greater authority to block unfair Internet Service Provider practices. Republican opponents have blasted the rules, criticizing the secrecy of the FCC process and portraying the plan as government overreach.

The order released today will reclassify consumer broadband as a utility under Title II of the Communications Act, giving the FCC the authority to issue strong, "bright line" rules against practices such as blocking lawful content and paid prioritization. The rules will also extend to mobile access.

The FCC commissioners who support the plan are confident about the order. "The lesson of this period, and the overwhelming consensus on the record, is that carefully-tailored rules to protect Internet openness will allow investment and innovation to continue to flourish," the order reads.

Read the full text of the order below.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

FCC net neutrality order

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Before You Go

Politicians Holding Guns
George W. Bush(01 of10)
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FILE - In this Sept. 1, 1994 file photo, George W. Bush looks to the sky during a dove hunt in Hockley, Texas during his first Texas gubernatorial campaign. (AP Photo/File, David J. Phillip, File) (credit:AP)
Barack Obama(02 of10)
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In this photo released by the White House, President Barack Obama shoots clay targets on the range at Camp David, Md., Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/The White House, Pete Souza) (credit:AP)
John Kerry(03 of10)
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Democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry (D-MA) checks out a shotgun before trap shooting September 4, 2004 in Edinburg, Ohio. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ted Cruz(04 of10)
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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, walks through tall grass during a pheasant hunt hosted by Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013, in Akron, Iowa. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) (credit:AP)
Rick Perry(05 of10)
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Texas Governor Rick Perry fires a six-shooter revolver in downtown Fort Worth during a promotional event with Texas Motor Speedway on April 15, 2010 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ted Cruz, Steve King(06 of10)
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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, right, talks with Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, after a pheasant hunt hosted by King on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013, in Akron, Iowa. Cruz attended the Iowa GOP's annual fundraising dinner in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) (credit:AP)
Mitch McConnell, Tom Coburn(07 of10)
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US Senator Tom Coburn (R) holds a gun given to him by US Senate Minority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell during the American Conservative Union Conference on March 6, 2014 in National Harbor, Maryland. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Dianne Feinstein(08 of10)
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U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) grabs an AK-47 during a press conference at the Los Angeles Police Department headquarters in downtown Los Angeles 21 August 2003. Senator Feinstein, Governor Gray Davis and Los Angeles law enforcement officials urged the U.S. Congress to extend the ban on assault weapons. (HECTOR MATA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Rick Santorum(09 of10)
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Republican presidential candidate, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum celebrates after he shot a bird during a hunt at Doc's Hunt Club in Adel, Iowa, Monday, Dec. 26, 2011. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) (credit:AP)
Newt Gingrich (10 of10)
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Republican presidential candidate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R) holds a Ruger rifle that he signed as Ruger's Vice President Tom Sullivan (2ndR) looks on during a tour of the Ruger Firearms manufacturing facility January 06, 2012 in Newport, New Hampshire. (Photo by Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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