Obama endorses net neutrality, asks FCC to reclassify internet as a utility

(Image credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

last updated 8 January 2015

In a huge victory for net neutrality proponents, President Obama on Monday urged the Federal Communications Commission to reclassify the internet as a utility and prevent internet service providers (ISPs) from selectively controlling access to the web.

"The time has come for the FCC to recognize that broadband service is of the same importance and must carry the same obligations as so many of the other vital services do," Obama said in a statement.

To that end, he said the FCC should reclassify ISPs as telecom companies under Title II of the Communications Act. That would prevent ISPs from being able to "restrict the best access or to pick winners and losers in the online marketplace for services and ideas," he said.

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Here's Obama explaining his rationale. --Jon Terbush

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Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.