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FCC plans to formalize Internet rules on net neutrality draw fire
The Internet has long adhered to one basic principle: Nobody's in charge.
That hallmark owes to the Internet's grand design. It's basically a global confederation of unrelated computers, making it impervious to hurricanes, earthquakes and other disasters. Hackers regularly attack, but can't shut it down. Governments, try as they might, also can't control it.
That doesn't mean the Internet is meddle-proof.
Its Achilles' heel: Internet service providers, or ISPs. They control the on-off ramps used by millions to enter and exit the World Wide Web each day. Access is typically provided by phone and cable TV companies, via upgraded phone lines and high-speed cable-TV modems.
Currently, the only thing stopping ISPs from abusing their control are four "Internet principles"–voluntary guidelines, which are subject to interpretation.
Now, the Federal Communications Commission wants to turn those guidelines into hard rules and extend them to wireless, and that's creating a heated debate across the USA about "net neutrality"–the idea that all Internet service providers should treat all traffic on their networks the same.