Cincinnati Bell reaffirms no changes after net neutrality repeal

Days after the Federal Communications Commission voted to end net neutrality, Cincinnati Bell reiterated its promise to not alter service.

In a Tuesday letter sent to customers, chief operating officer Tom Simpson promised business as usual:

"The repeal of net neutrality rules will not impact Cincinnati Bell customers," Simpson wrote. "Cincinnati Bell wants you to be clear on our position: We will not prioritize internet content traffic. We have, and will continue, to keep treating all Internet traffic the same way.

"We will not charge you a premium to access content that is freely accessible over the Internet," Simpson wrote.

Last week, the FCC voted to dismantle 2015 rules that bar internet service providers from stopping or slowing content delivery from web sites or charging customers for faster service.

Cincinnati Bell has more than 300,000 internet subscribers in the region.

Consumer groups and online giants, such as Amazon, Facebook and Google, have warned the change could empower cable companies to squeeze consumers and companies alike for speedy connections, but new FCC chairman Ajit Pai has dismissed the concerns as "hypothetical."