FCC Head Proposes Abandoning Obama-Era Net Neutrality Rules

By Todd Shields, Bloomberg News

U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has proposed vacating Obama-era net neutrality rules that he said amount to micro-managing the internet, handing a victory to broadband providers such as AT&T Inc. and Comcast Corp. that oppose the regulations.

“I look forward to returning to the light-touch, market- based framework that unleashed the digital revolution and benefited consumers here and around the world,” Pai said in an emailed news release. Pai said he presented his proposal to fellow FCC commissioners today, and set for a vote on Dec. 14.

Supporters including Silicon Valley firms argue ...