Today, many people think of the internet as something that just exists. It’s something that enables us to post pictures of our dogs on Instagram, tweet clever puns, and snapchat our friend’s pictures. No one takes the time to think about the business behind the internet or just how fragile this global system of interconnected computer networks is. The FCC recently introduced a proposal to reverse a 2015 decision that put regulations on net neutrality. The change will lift bans on practices such as throttling, blocking and paid prioritization, and a reduction of the amount of data companies will have to report.
In simpler terms, net neutrality stops internet providers from controlling what kind of content users see online. Internet providers are required to treat all traffic sources equally, and providers are therefore unable to favor content produced by companies that they are affiliated with. As of right now, users are able to access the same content online at roughly the same traffic speed as everyone else without having to pay more. The new rules that are expected to be rolled out by the FCC favor rich companies who can afford to have their content to be directly accessed by consumers.
With the way things are now, internet providers cannot charge customers more money for different services. Currently, there is a level playing field that keeps prices relatively stable. The FCC chairman Ajit Pai, appointed by President Trump, argues that repealing the net neutrality laws will force providers to be upfront about the services they offer and if they are going to charge more for specific services.
Getting rid of net neutrality also enables large businesses such as Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon to pay for prioritized bandwidth, which would essentially monopolize the internet by making it impossible for small businesses to compete. For years, the internet has been a place where small businesses can thrive and make a name for themselves. It also means that smaller, independently run blogs will suffer slower load times than big companies like The New York Times or The Washington Post.
The FCC’s decision to repeal the current net neutrality laws comes at a time when the top internet providers are partnered with large content companies. Comcast owns NBC, AT&T is trying to buy Spectrum Time Warner, and Verizon owns AOL and Yahoo. That gives these companies a huge amount of power that will stifle competition on the internet amongst content creators. More than 100 YouTubers have signed an open letter to the FCC urging them to not repeal net neutrality. The letter is from the Internet Creators Guild, which represents online video creators. “As creators in this fast-moving industry, changes to the existing Net Neutrality rules would have an outsized impact on our field and jeopardize our livelihood.”, the letter states. It’s important to note that many major video providers including Amazon, Pornhub, Youtube, and Netflix have pledged their support of net neutrality.
Proponents of net neutrality argue that questionable content thrives on the internet because all content is created equally. They argue that pornography, graphically violent videos, and other harmful content is made readily available to anyone who can access the internet. Those in favor of overturning the current rules also argue that net neutrality gives the government more control over the internet. They argue that growth on the internet is actually restrained by net neutrality.
In just two days, the FCC will vote on whether or not they will repeal net neutrality. The decision could be damaging for many small businesses and content creators who rely on the internet. Writing to Congress and local lawmakers is one way to try and save net neutrality, but also contacting the FCC directly is an effective way to make your voice heard. 39 senators have recently signed a letter to the FCC urging them to reconsider their decision to repeal. “We write to urge you to abandon your reckless plan to radically alter the free and open internet as we know it”, reads the letter. They then go on to mention the important role the internet plays in the lives of many Americans.
The golden age of the internet may be coming to an end for Americans; however, the importance of sharing information will not go away. Luckily, sites like Reddit, Kickstarter, and Etsy have been launching protests of the vote on their websites to demonstrate the potentially harmful effects of repealing net neutrality. It’s all but certain that the FCC will vote to overturn net neutrality. It’s important that you always continue to support small businesses and websites so that they may continue to thrive in the post-net neutrality world.
Quiet Company 