The repeal of net neutrality is a very bad thing.
On December 14, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal net neutrality, which was a policy created under the Obama administration that mandated all internet data as equal. This repeal went into effect on June 11, 2018. The vote was spearheaded by the FCC chairman and Trump appointee, Ajit Pai. By the way, Pai used to work for Verizon, so think about what that means.
I've been following this story for the past few years and getting increasingly frustrated that more bloggers, social justice/political activists, and digital influencers haven’t been talking about it since it affects our livelihoods directly. And don’t even get me started on our presidential candidates! In fact, when I first posted about it on my Facebook page back in 2017, hardly anyone even responded or commented. (Side note: was I censored?)
So far, Senator Bernie Sanders is the only one who is a long-time proponent of net neutrality and recognizes that the internet should be seen as a public utility. He says, “We must fight to keep the internet free and open—not dominated by corporations. This struggle is essential to free speech and democracy.” (Stephen Lovely, Bernie Sanders is the Most Pro-Net Neutrality Politician in the Presidential Race)
What is net neutrality?
Net neutrality is the idea that internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon should treat all content equally. That means they shouldn't be able to slide some data into “fast lanes” while blocking or otherwise discriminating against other material. In other words, these companies shouldn't be able to block you from accessing a service like Skype, or slow down Netflix or Hulu, in order to encourage you to keep your cable package or buy a different video-streaming service. The FCC spent years, under both the Bush and Obama administrations, trying to enforce net neutrality protections. (Klint Finley, Wired)
Net neutrality is a topic that we all should be concerned about, including people without a computer or internet access at home. Almost everything is done online these days so people without internet access are already at a deficit. Restricting or blocking the internet will affect all of us, which is why the debate over net neutrality is important. The outcome of the debate will affect pricing, internet access and advances in digital technology.
Why are people in favor of net neutrality?
Because it’s equal internet access for all. The internet is a necessary tool for everyone, not just those who are able to pay for it. And better internet access shouldn’t just be for the wealthy either.
Those in favor of net neutrality say that these laws protect their right to see and visit all sites, no matter how big or small they are or what content they have. They say that without this rule, people with a lower income won’t be able to afford more popular sites because of package pricing. They worry that internet service providers (ISPs) can manipulate what people see and hear. This would then lead to swaying public opinion about a topic by not allowing them access to all information. (Natalie Hyde, Net Neutrality)
“Net neutrality is the idea that all content on the internet should remain equally accessible, that internet service providers should not be able to choose which websites load faster than others, or even to block certain sites.” (Michel Martin, NPR host)
It’s important to note that 86% of Americans are in favor of net neutrality.
Who on earth would be against net neutrality?
Just one look at the names of those against net neutrality should tell you everything — AT&T, Comcast, Time Warner, Verizon, and all the other ISP corporations. They are positioned to make a ton of money if the repeal of net neutrality is passed.
Back in August 2008, Comcast was ordered by the FCC to stop slowing down traffic from the BitTorrent website, which was a video and music sharing site. There were no net neutrality rules in place back then. Comcast restricted traffic because internet users had the opportunity to view high-quality video with BitTorrent that they might otherwise watch (and pay for) on cable television. The threat was particularly acute to Comcast's video-on-demand service. When Comcast customers noticed trouble with BitTorrent downloads, Comcast misleadingly disclaimed any responsibility for the customers' problems. This incident led to the FCC's 2010 decision to impose specific net neutrality rules against blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization. (Nilay Patel, The Verge)
In another example, Time Warner AOL was blocking certain emails that mentioned the protest to stop AOL’s idea of pay-to-send emails. And in Canada, Telus blocked striking union workers from accessing a website run by their union. (Natalie Hyde, Net Neutrality)
So what is the debate?
The debate is sensitive because it’s about what role the internet plays in our society.
The government is busy deciding whether or not internet access should be labeled as a public utility — is it as necessary as electricity, water, and sewage? I believe it should be.
How does the death of net neutrality affect you and me?
This policy change has been heralded as the death knell of the internet as we know it. The potential consequences, as people foretell them, are dire. AT&T will be able to offer a cheap, shitty internet plan that only lets you go to sites like Bing.com and Yahoo Answers. Verizon could block you from going to websites with negative reviews of Verizon products. Access to social media sites would be sold in bundles, like cable — think $5.99 a month for Snapchat and Instagram, $10.99 extra per month for Tinder and Scruff. Comcast could slow down access to Netflix, forcing you to subscribe to Xfinity Instant instead, one of their own products.
The loss of net neutrality would bring with it the loss of knowledge.
This is the kind of thing some people fear with ISPs being able to control which sites they allow people to access and which they will not. A company that supports one political party over another might refuse to allow websites that criticize politicians. Your ISP could allow you to visit CNN but not the BBC or local stations. This could affect what stories or viewpoints you will be able to read or hear. And you can forget about ever getting a balanced view on any topic. ISPs that have members who do not support equal rights for all might refuse to allow websites that openly support women’s rights or LGBTQ events. By trying to restrict what people see, hear and understand, ISPs could increase hate, fear and the loss of rights for many. Misinformation would be rampant. (Natalie Hyde, Net Neutrality)
You’ve probably seen images of what internet access could look like under these rules. Congressman Ro Khanna infamously tweeted an advertisement from a telecom in Portugal, where there is, he said, no net neutrality: The phone company appeared to be charging 4.99 a month to use Skype, 4.99 more to use Facebook and Instagram, an additional 4.99 on top of that for Hulu, Netflix, and Youtube. People were aghast. The image drove people to call the FCC en masse. (E. Price)
For some, the extra fees might mean they won’t be able to afford the access they used to have. This will affect their ability to do price comparisons when shopping. Or applying to jobs. Or doing research on home purchasing or schools. They will most likely not be as informed on a subject, which would affect how they vote in elections or what health choices they end up making. It will be even more difficult for small businesses to compete with large corporations. The end of net neutrality could bring a definitive end to local businesses.
If you are an activist, internet access is absolutely vital when it comes to organizing and spreading your message. Before the internet, news of world events could take days to reach other cities and countries. This greatly affected the time it took for help to arrive for natural disasters or human tragedies.
For those who use the internet on a daily basis — activists, journalists, teachers, and more — an internet without net neutrality would put a halt to their critical projects and professional networks. Without net neutrality, you can expect all kinds of online inequality to spiral out of control. Your internet will work and look like a closed network where access different ideas, art, movements, and more — will depend on the offerings made by your internet service provider. (Bustle)
Many people, especially young adults, use the internet in all parts of their lives — online learning, job searching, college applications, communication, entertainment, and dating.
Will these changes happen soon? Probably not. You won't see any major changes overnight. They will be rolled out slowly over time. But you will eventually see them.
Can they still be stopped? YES!!
Congress can still overturn it and restore net neutrality. The debate is still going on.
In the meantime, what can you and I do?
This is where it sucks. There isn't much the average American can do but the fight is far from over. We have to keep engaging with our elected officials if we want anything to happen. If they keep fighting to restore net neutrality, it will only be because their constituents have expressed that it is important for them to do so. Otherwise, they'll happily spend their time (and money) pursuing other things.
This is a major issue this election year so why haven’t any of the presidential candidates even mentioned it?
There are many reasons why this could be the case: the debates have been broadcast on commercial networks owned by leading opponents of net neutrality. Most of the candidates have received donations from ISPs. And the candidates themselves may not have an opinion on it. We need to put pressure on the candidates and the debate hosts to name net neutrality. The candidates should be asked if they will reinstate the rules set in place under President Obama in 2015 and undone by President Trump in 2017. (Amy Ward, nten.org)
With such an overwhelming amount of public support for net neutrality, there should be no reason it’s not one of the major issues we demand all presidential candidates take a clear stance on.
We have a lot of work to do.
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