By
Mark Prigg
|
Fears of a ‘premium internet’ where providers are forced to pay more for faster access were growing today after a U.S. appeals court rejected federal rules that required Internet providers to treat all web traffic equally.
The Federal Communications Commission’s open Internet rules, also known as net neutrality rules, required Internet service providers to give consumers equal access to all lawful content without restrictions or varying charges.
But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down the regulation, which was passed in late 2010 and challenged in court by Verizon Communications Inc.
A U.S. appeals court has rejected federal rules that required Internet providers to treat all web traffic equally
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Current net neutrality rules require Internet service providers to give consumers equal access to all lawful content – be it web sites of streaming video.
There are now fears Internet providers such as Verizon or Comcast would begin to charge content providers for faster access or slow down or