The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3 to 2 on June 17 in favour of giving itself the authority to regulate the transmission component of broadband internet service. The majority ruling stated this was necessary for expanding the availability of broadband.

The next step is a period of public comment on an FCC proposal to overturn the classification of broadband transmission as a lightly regulated information service. The change would result in the designation of broadband transmission as a telecommunications service, which would make it subject to stricter regulation.

However, the FCC claims it will exempt broadband service from most of the regulatory options it has under the stricter designation, keeping only those regulations that are necessary “to implement fundamental universal service, competition and market entry, and consumer protection policies.”

It would not regulate Internet content but some are worried it would give the FCC the power to regulate rates charged to consumers by broadband service providers, although Julius Genachowski, the FCC chairman, has said the commission does not intend to do this.