Commissioner Mignon Clyburn (Photo : Reuters)
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, one of the key individuals in the implementation of net neutrality has continued to stand her ground and said that her office is still in discussion with Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler.
Commissioner Clyburn is one of the three Democrat voters in the ongoing debate about the implementation of net neutrality.
Clyburn said, "[B]ut what I will say, is that it is imperative that the order strikes the right balance, for consumers deserve and need strong open Internet protections and investors need clarity and certainty."
The net neutrality bill has been debated for more than a decade and the federal government has yet to impose a proper regulation on how to control one of the fastest growing medium in terms of communication.
On the other hand, South Dakota Republican senator John Thune along with representatives Fred Upton and Greg Walden has drawn up a different legislation that would implement the same restrictions that Wheeler is proposing. However, this new proposal will limit the FCC's authority to impose the restrictions and has to seek the Congress' approval in case the agency needs to implement one, according to The Blaze.
The passing of the net neutrality bill will decide the federal government's authority in terms of regulating Internet broadband service providers.
The Democrats side say that internet service provides should be regulated the same way as other public utilities are being governed. The proposal submitted by FCC chairman Wheeler would impose two important regulations: disallow broadband internet providers from throttling or blocking contents from the Internet and force internet service providers into providing equal treatment to websites.
The commission, composed of three Democrats and two Republicans, is expected to release its verdict on Thursday, according to NPR.
