The meeting started over an hour ago, but you can watch it live here. This is the big day we've all been waiting for.

If the FCC chooses Title II Classification, the ruling will likely withstand any legal challenge brought against it. But at any rate (hue), even if the FCC votes against it, it already raised the definition of broadband to 25-megabits per second as kind of a fuck-you to the industry.

Later this morning, the Federal Communications Commission will take a vote on adopting new rules that would keep the Internet neutral.   Here's a guide to what all of this means.

— What does net neutrality mean?

Here's the Cliffs Notes version from NPR's Elise Hu:

Net neutrality is the concept that your Internet provider should be a neutral gateway to everything on the Internet, not a gatekeeper deciding to load some sites slower than others or impose fees for faster service."

In other words, it's a concept in which Internet service providers (ISPs) don't discriminate when it comes to Internet traffic.

Without net neutrality rules, ISPs could theoretically take money from companies like Netflix or Amazon to speed up traffic to their sites.

NPR's Laura Sydell explained one hypothetical like this:

"More than 30 percent of Internet traffic at peak times comes from Netflix, according to studies. So Verizon might say, 'Netflix, you need to pay us more.' Or maybe Verizon strikes a deal with Amazon and says your prime video service can get speedier delivery to the home and we're going to slow down Netflix."

— What is the FCC voting on?

The Federal Communications Commission is voting on whether to reclassify broadband access as a "telecommunications service under Title II."

In layman's terms, the FCC is looking to reclassify broadband as a utility, which would give the commission more regulatory power over Internet providers.

— What prompted this FCC vote?

Back in 2010, the FCC actually passed rules to keep the Internet neutral. But those rules were challenged by Verizon and in January of 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that the FCC did not have the regulatory power over broadband to issue those rules.

The court, however, said that the FCC could reclassify broadband and that would give it broad regulatory powers.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler decided to go that direction in February.

Earlier this week, Republicans in Congress dropped opposition to the proposed rules, saying they were not going to pass a bill without any Democratic support.

— What would the proposed rules do?

The proposed rules are pretty lengthy, but from an FCC fact sheet, here are the three things that the rules would ban that matter most to consumers:

"No Blocking: broadband providers may not block access to legal content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices.

"No Throttling: broadband providers may not impair or degrade lawful Internet traffic on the basis of content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices.

"No Paid Prioritization: broadband providers may not favor some lawful Internet traffic over other lawful traffic in exchange for consideration — in other words, no 'fast lanes.' This rule also bans ISPs from prioritizing content and services of their affiliates."

— What does John Oliver have to do with all this?

The comedian John Oliver brought this issue to the forefront when he dedicated 14 minutes on his program to explain why net neutrality is so important.

YouTube

He called on his viewers to write to the FCC to encourage them to adopt new rules. His call — and the enormous response — broke the commission's website.

A bunch of big Internet sites — Netflix, Etsy and Foursquare among them — joined the chorus in September when they took part in "Internet Slowdown Day," presenting their users with symbolic loading icons "to remind everyone what an Internet without net neutrality would look like."

— When is the FCC voting?

The FCC is voting during an open meeting at 10:30 a.m. ET.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/02/26/389089145/the-fccs-net-neutrality-vote-heres-what-you-need-to-know

who is this retard talking right now? I want to send him a cardboard dick.

How, if at all, would this have affected speeds in the UK? Like, would it also slow down over here, too?

Quote from: ShelfBacon on February 26, 2015, 12:57:38 PM

How, if at all, would this have affected speeds in the UK? Like, would it also slow down over here, too?

It wont affect things outside of the US at all. This basically treats US ISPs as a utility so they can't charge extra for preferred traffic on the network.

My bad. I meant if it did go through and they could do bad shit.

Like, I don't think any ISP's in Britain are owned by a US company, and a US company doesn't operate in other countries, obviously. So I'm wondering how it would have affected me if it had gone the other way.

Not saing that like I wouldn't care otherwise, it's a big deal no matter where it is. I mean, if it had gone bad, then it would just open the door for UK companies to do this shit. Albeit, UK companies have a slightly better reputation here than the US ones do, it seems..

Quote from: ShelfBacon on February 26, 2015, 12:57:38 PM

How, if at all, would this have affected speeds in the UK? Like, would it also slow down over here, too?

It wouldn't do anything outside of the US. No worries, we're safe.

Good. Now we just wait for the time to stri-

waitwat?

Quote from: Kupo on February 26, 2015, 10:53:42 AM

This is the big day we've all been waiting for.

Can't say I've really been giving this much thought

Easy for you to say >.>

Net Neutrality wins!

Gg Verizon

Surprised. Figured the ISPs had this on lock down.
gg 'Murica™

Quote from: \ on February 26, 2015, 10:58:38 AM

I wish they'd make the minimum higher than 25 Mbps

It needs to be 25 MEGABYTES or greater.. not Megabits damn it! > : (

25 Megabytes is 200 Megabits wow

Even on fibre I'm currently not getting those speeds!

I get half that >.>