How Comcast, Verizon, and the Rest of Big Telecom Blew the Net-Neutrality Battle [telecom]

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by Rob Pegoraro

Last Thursday's vote by the Federal Communications Commission to enact sweeping net neutrality regulations represented almost a 180-degree turnaround from a year ago.

Back then, a federal court struck down a timid set of net neutrality rules, and the FCC responded by preparing still weaker regulations.

What happened between then and now? Much of the credit for this reversal goes to millions of Americans who got mad and let Washington know about it. The White House took note - in November, President Obama asked the FCC to return to treating Internet providers as "common carrier" utilities - and in January, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler surprised many by saying the commission would do just that.

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