Apple broke its silence on net neutrality and urged the Federal Communications Commission in a filing to "retain strong, enforceable open internet protections," CNN reported.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has plans to do away with net neutrality rules that have been in place for the last three years, and argues the rules are too burdensome and harm jobs and investment. The FCC in May voted 2-1 to advance a Republican plan to reverse the Obama administration’s 2015 order with a final vote set after the public is allowed to comment.
Apple said in its filing that the FCC's current rules help protect consumers and online businesses. It also maintained a need for a ban on "fast lanes," saying giving Internet providers the freedom to do so could, "allow a broadband provider, not the consumer, to pick internet winners and losers, based on a broadband provider's priorities rather than the quality of the service."
Pai wanted public input on whether the FCC had the authority or should keep its "bright line" rules barring internet companies from blocking, throttling or giving "fast lanes" to some websites.
"We work hard to build great products, and what consumers do with those tools is up to them — not Apple, and not broadband providers," Cynthia Hogan, VP of public policy at Apple, said in the comment.
Apple, Amazon, Netflix and other major companies that have built businesses under the lighter regulatory regime have come out against Pai's proposals.