President Obama on Monday called for regulations to protect the open Internet, saying there should not be “fast lanes” for companies that pay more for the service.
Chris Bronk, assistant professor of information and logistics technology in the University of Houston’s College of Technology, said the statement is “a fairly pragmatic stance,” consistent with what advocates for net neutrality have suggested.
While some regulations could be implemented by the Federal Communications Commission, others might require Congressional action, he said.
Stock prices for several telecommunication companies fell in early trading after the White House announcement, and Bronk noted that such regulations would make it difficult to impose different pricing structures for customers.
Bronk is available to discuss the issue; reach him at rcbronk@central.uh.edu or through media relations representative Jeannie Kever at jekever@uh.edu.