The Federal Communications Commission has issued a proposal to overturn “net neutrality,” in a decision that would have potential implications for schools and education technology companies. Net neutrality is the principle that all web content be treated equally by Internet service providers—rather than allowing them to deliver some materials at faster speeds, while slowing other content.
In 2015, the FCC’s then-Democratic majority approved policies to protect net neutrality. But current FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, a Republican appointed by President Trump, last week circulated an order to curtail those rules, which he called a “failed approach” to regulation. He said the Republican-led commission would vote on his plan Dec. 14.
Some K-12 officials and ed-tech companies worry that online content delivered to schools could be throttled, if other industries were able to pay to have different content delivered more quickly.
