Net Neutrality Rules Finalized

The FCC has just filed its final "open Internet" rules (PDF) with the Federal Register, which will publish them on Sept. 23rd, 2011 and make them official.

Here's how the FCC summarizes the protections for broadband service: "First, transparency: fixed and mobile broadband providers must disclose the network management practices, performance characteristics, and commercial terms of their broadband services. Second, no blocking: fixed broadband providers may not block lawful content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices; mobile broadband providers may not block lawful websites, or block applications that compete with their voice or video telephony services. Third, no unreasonable discrimination: fixed broadband providers may not unreasonably discriminate in transmitting lawful network traffic."