The U.S. government plans to propose broad new rules Monday that would force Internet providers to treat all Web traffic equally, seeking to give consumers greater freedom to use their computers or cellphones to enjoy videos, music and other legal services that hog bandwith.
The move would make good on a campaign promise from President Barack Obama to Silicon Valley supporters like Google Inc., but will trigger a battle with phone and cable companies like AT&T Inc. and Comcast Corp., which don’t want the government telling them how to run their networks.
The proposed rules could change how operators manage their networks and profit from them, and the everyday online experience of individual users. Treating all Web traffic equally means carriers couldn’t block or slow access to services or sites that are a drain on their networks or offered by rivals.
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