US President Barack Obama has expressed his support to ‘net neutrality’ calling for stronger rules to protect equality in accessing the internet.
In a televised statement by the White House on Monday, Obama agreed with activists supporting net neutrality saying that the Federal Communications Commission's new rules should apply equally to mobile and wired internet service providers (ISPs).
Obama also urged the FCC to set regulations that ban ISPs from striking paid "fast lane" deals with content companies.
“No service should be stuck in a 'slow lane' because it does not pay a fee," Obama said. "That kind of gatekeeping would undermine the level playing field essential to the Internet’s growth."
The unanticipated statement puts Obama in conflict with ISPs, who claim that more regulations would limit the incentive for investment in infrastructure and service improvement.
Edited translation from DPA
