- Net neutrality is the concept that all sites on the internet are considered equal, as far as access and speed to connection goes. So, from your cat videos, to your scientific journals, and to your weirdest porn, all sites are available for you to browse and enjoy. So, basically, business as usual.
- The latest proceeding in regards to internet usage is presented by the FCC, and its current Chairman and former Verizon executive Ajit Pai, is called “Restoring Internet Freedom.” It is bad news bears, everyone.
- Why? Because companies like Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T would like to put up roadblocks to net neutrality under the guise of being able to provide better service. The current arguments against net neutrality is to prevent illegal activity, putting a limit on power users who suck up too much resources, and to give special services to certain users, such as medical services.
- But why really? These arguments are just nice sounding boards to make it seem like if you are against this filing, you hate sick people and get off on illegally downloading Game of Thrones every second of your life. The real reason is because of Netflix, Google, Skype, and other large companies are not paying what the ISP’s feel like is a fair price for their usage. They would like to make them pay higher fees because money.
- Why is this bad? Because if Netflix and Google have to pay more, that means end-users, aka you, me, and your sweet old grandma, all have to pay more. And the only people who would benefit would be the ISP’s. The ISP’s claim that net neutrality hurts the economy, but let me ask you this? What would hurt the economy more? Comcast continuing to make just as much money as it is now, or the general public having to cough up unregulated amounts of money every month to be able to apply for jobs, communicate with family, or pay bills?
- Also, under this plan, all Internet regulation goes to the ISP’s, not the government. Up till now, the Internet has been treated like a public utility. Much like phones, water, and electricity, Internet companies aren’t allowed to decide that the person who spends the most can get the most. If this filing goes through, this “Restoring Internet Freedom”, that ideal no longer applies.
- In addition, putting the regulations in the companies hands is opening the door to blocking websites they don’t like, slowing down connection if they don’t like you, and prioritize their own content over the rest of the web. So, the open information revolution that has come because of the Internet will be changed, and in a bad way. The innovation fueled by the connections you can forge and the things you can learn at a touch of a button comes to a grinding halt. <— Another argument for why the filing is terrible for the economy, btw.
- So what do you do? Blast the message. It doesn’t matter if you share this article or the hundreds of others you’ll find online, just let people know, and let them get angry.
- Call your political representatives. Here’s a good link to contact those folks: http://act.freepress.net/sign/internet_NN_trump/
- Check out this site from the Internet Association, who will let you know how to contact the FCC directly: https://netneutrality.internetassociation.org/action/
You are now educated on net neutrality. Congratulations! Take this newfound knowledge and spread it around, so you too can protect your favorite videos, no matter how weird or cat-filled they may be.