Internet fairness goes offline

YOUR ABILITY to watch and use your favorite apps and services could start to change — though not right away — following the official demise Monday of Obama-era internet protections.

Any changes are likely to happen slowly, as companies assess how much consumers will tolerate. The repeal of net neutrality took effect six months after the Federal Communications Commission voted to undo the rules, which had barred broadband and cell phone companies from favoring their own services and discriminating against rivals such as Netflix.

They couldn’t slow down or block websites and apps of their choosing. Nor could they charge Netflix and other video services extra to reach viewers more smoothly.

For now, broadband providers insist they won’t do anything that would harm the “internet experience” for consumers.