The Federal Communications Commission voted 3–2 to impose net neutrality rules today, restoring the common-carrier regulatory framework enforced during the Obama era and then abandoned while Trump was president.
The rules prohibit Internet service providers from blocking and throttling lawful content and ban paid prioritization.
“Consumers have made clear to us they do not want their broadband provider cutting sweetheart deals, with fast lanes for some services and slow lanes for others,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said at today’s meeting.
Wait why the fuck does the FCC only consist of 5 people?!?
The regulatory agency is pretty large, but it’s headed by a 5-member commission.
Does your workplace vote on everything collectively? Or does a smaller controlling board vote?
Kinda hard to compare that to a country with 300 million citizens
Congress can pass a law anytime they want. But this small regulatory agency is all we have in the meantime.
Its design is based on the Illuminatus Trilogy
Ok sure, that makes sense
This is the FCC = Federal Communications Commission. I don’t know the origins but as long as I’ve been aware they’ve been a 5-member panel; 3 commissioners from the president’s party and 2 from the opposing party. They’re supported by hundreds of staff members.
FTC = Federal Trade Commission, a completely separate body. They recently made headlines for banning non-compete agreements.
So this thing’s structure is hard coded to fit into a two party system?
Sort of? I’m sure Congress could change it. They likely won’t because their members are almost entirely from the two major parties. But IIRC there was brief talk of changes when Republicans blocked the nomination of Gigi Sohn.
Oh yeah, you’re right. I meant the FCC, just got a little confused there, but I know that these are separate bodies. But still, just 5 people in charge of it? Seems kinda strange to me.
It’s intentionally an odd number so votes don’t end in ties. And it’s a small number because nominations and appointments can take a long time due to political BS.