Source: ABC news (read the rest here)

A narrowly divided Federal Communications Commission today approved bold new rules aimed at preventing broadband service providers from censoring how individuals and organizations can surf the Internet's fastest pipes.

The so-called "net neutrality" regulations prohibit the suppliers of Internet connections to millions of American homes and offices from blocking access to certain websites, applications or services so long as they are legal.

Companies will also be required to publicly disclose information on their practices, performance characteristics and commercial ties.

"Today, for the first time, we are adopting rules to preserve basic Internet values," said FCC chairman Julius Genachowski. "For the first time, we'll have enforceable rules of the road to preserve Internet freedom and openness."

Yay or Nay? Why?

Well, i'm on the "too soft" side. Too many loopholes and the wireless providers are the worst offenders (and exactly the sort of thing that needs to be discouraged so that landline ISPs don't start getting the idea that they can charge by the Gigabyte)

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/12/why-everyone-hates-new-net-neutrality-ruleseven-nn-supporters.ars

It's so weak that no interested party (campaigners, telcos, Republicans or Democrats) is happy with it. It will change nothing actually happening which is a great shame as I believe true NN is necessary to keep the internet affordable for small players to gain something from.

And the US does set the example for the rest of the world to as well as have power over ICANN so this does have consequences for everyone. Too bad it's only Americans voters that get to decide.

Nay, especially given the FCC's history. They went from regulating actual radio waves to regulating content, so I'm not convinced they won't eventually do the same with the internet.

I support it because it could lead to true net neutrality in this nation. 

It's a small step forward. But a lot more needs to be done.

I agree... really anything companies are consiering doing aren't actually being ruled against.. just "discouraged" which seems about as useful as a nonbinding UN resolution.

Though, the FCC doesn't have the best track record when it comes to managing power it's given, so who can say.

this is weak sauce.  The loopholes are enormous.  

unfortunately the FCC is fighting an uphill battle against the upcoming GOP congress so really they cant instill any true controlling regulation because the GOP would do everything in their power to remove them so ISPs and other services can continue to screw the public over.

That sucks.  The government is now trying to ruin the internet.  Oh well, I guess the freedom wouldn't last forever!  I'll keep working at bring liberty to NH, at least.