VOA慢速英語：美國廢除互聯(lián)網(wǎng)服務的網(wǎng)絡(luò)中立規(guī)定

US Ends ‘Net Neutrality’ Rules for Internet Service

美國廢除互聯(lián)網(wǎng)服務的網(wǎng)絡(luò)中立規(guī)定

Internet users in the United States likely did not notice anything different this week when they were looking at websites.

美國互聯(lián)網(wǎng)用戶本周在訪問網(wǎng)站時可能沒有注意到有任何不同。

But some rules governing the internet changed a lot.

但是一些互聯(lián)網(wǎng)管理規(guī)定有了大變化。

Businesses that provide internet service are now permitted to block, slow down, or speed up access to some web sites. They may also require companies, such as YouTube or Amazon, to pay to show users their videos, stories, or pictures faster.

現(xiàn)在允許互聯(lián)網(wǎng)提供商阻斷、減慢或是加速某些網(wǎng)站的訪問。它們還可能要求諸如YouTube或亞馬遜之類的公司付費，以便它們的視頻、新聞或故事能夠更快顯示。

The change marks the end of rules known as "net neutrality." Former U.S. President Barack Obama put the rules in place in 2015.

這一變化標志著“網(wǎng)絡(luò)中立”規(guī)定的結(jié)束。前總統(tǒng)奧巴馬于2015年制定了該規(guī)定。

In the term net neutrality, "net" is a short way of saying "internet." Under its rules, government regulations required internet service providers to treat websites and applications in the same way.

在網(wǎng)絡(luò)中立這個術(shù)語中，網(wǎng)絡(luò)是互聯(lián)網(wǎng)的簡稱。根據(jù)該規(guī)定，政府法規(guī)要求互聯(lián)網(wǎng)提供商平等對待網(wǎng)站和應用程序。

But earlier this year, government officials, supported by President Donald Trump, voted to end those rules. Their decision took effect on Monday.

但今年早些時候，政府官員在川普總統(tǒng)的支持下投票終止了這一規(guī)定。該決定將于周一正式生效。

Supporters of net neutrality argue that its regulations ensured everyone had equal ability to get information. The rules were largely popular with users – opinion studies showed that the American public approved of net neutrality by a big majority. Major internet companies such as Facebook and Alphabet, the company that owns Google, also support net neutrality.

網(wǎng)絡(luò)中立的支持者認為該規(guī)定確保了美國人都有獲取信息的平等能力。該規(guī)定在很大程度上受到用戶歡迎。民意調(diào)查表明，美國公眾絕大多數(shù)贊成網(wǎng)絡(luò)中立。Facebook以及Goolge的母公司Alphabet公司也都支持網(wǎng)絡(luò)中立。

But opponents said the rules limited businesses' reasons to invest in and improve internet service.

但是反對者稱，這些規(guī)定限制了企業(yè)投資和改善互聯(lián)網(wǎng)服務的意愿。

Major communications companies, including AT&T and Comcast, urged government officials to repeal net neutrality rules.

包括AT&T以及Comcast在內(nèi)的主要通信公司都督促政府官員廢除網(wǎng)絡(luò)中立規(guī)定。

The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission – the federal agency in charge of America's communications law and regulations – agreed with them. Ajit Pai said last week that the repeal will ensure "better, faster, and cheaper Internet access and more broadband to the American people."

美國聯(lián)邦通信委員會是負責美國通信法律法規(guī)的機構(gòu)，該機構(gòu)主席Ajit Pai也贊同他們的意見。他上周表示，廢除網(wǎng)絡(luò)中立規(guī)定將會確保“給美國人民提供更好、更快、更便宜的互聯(lián)網(wǎng)接入和寬帶服務。”

A group representing major cable service companies and TV networks praised the new policy. They said that users in the U.S. will not see a change in their internet service—except that it "will keep getting better."

一家代表主要有線電視服務公司和電視網(wǎng)絡(luò)的組織稱贊了這項新政策。他們表示，美國用戶不會感覺到他們的互聯(lián)網(wǎng)服務發(fā)生變化，除了“變得越來越好。”

However, activist groups and some public officials have promised to continue to fight for a return to the previous internet rules.

然而，維權(quán)組織和一些公職人員已經(jīng)允諾要繼續(xù)爭取恢復以前的這項互聯(lián)網(wǎng)規(guī)定。

I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.

凱利·吉恩·凱利報道。