Last November, President Obama called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), an independent regulatory agency, to reclassify Internet Service Providers (ISP's) as a "public utility" (like electricity, water, and telephone service), in order to protect "net neutrality." On February 25th, the FCC adopted a new set of rules which would do just that, and place the Internet under federal regulatory control. However, the discussion over net neutrality won't end there, as legal challenges are expected from the very ISP's the new rules seek to regulate, as well as from Republican lawmakers who want to override the administrative rules by Congressional mandate.
So, what is "net neutrality" and why is there such controversy swirling around it? What are the pros and the cons for an open internet? Should the Internet be treated equally for everyone? Should it be regulated like a public utility? Or should market forces and free competition determine Internet pricing and terms of service? Will federal regulation hinder growth of the tech industry and threaten the freedom of the Internet? Is net neutrality, as one conservative senator opined, "Obamacare for the Internet?" Discuss and debate your views.