FCC expected to approve net neutrality rules Thursday; move could benefit rural areas

The Federal Communications Commission is expected on Thursday to approve net neutrality rules to "regulate Internet service like a public utility, prohibiting companies from paying for faster lanes on the Internet," Jonathan Weisman reports for The New York Times. "Republicans on Capitol Hill, who once criticized the plan as 'Obamacare for the Internet,' now say they are unlikely to pass a legislative response that would undo perhaps the biggest policy shift since the Internet became a reality."

Reclassifying the Internet as a utility could benefit the 14 million rural Americans who lack Internet service, making it a high priority to get them connected, Chris Thomas reports for Public News Service. Supporters of net neutrality say "that without closer FCC regulation, the big Internet providers will continue to push for a tiered system that allows them to charge more money for faster speeds, which could compromise online access for those who can't afford it."