Net Neutrality: What is it?
Net Neutrality pretty much says that Internet Service Providers need to treat all of their customers the same and not charge each one separately based on how you stream the data. In 2007, Comcast was purposefully slowing down its uploads for customers using peer-to-peer file sharing. This means that they were sharing music, movies, books, etc. digitally through the internet. Time and time again internet users everywhere are trying to push for equality for all users, no matter what the use is. Net Neutrality gives everyone the freedom to speak online.
However, in 2014, Tom Wheeler developed a plan to purposefully get rid of net neutrality for good. Little did they know the public fought against his notion in a big way. So far that Tom Wheeler ditched his plan and ended up adding new Net Neutrality rules in the Communication Act.
Open Internet Order
To prevent Internet Providers from interfering with people internet use, the FCC Open Internet Order tried to make a bold stand. It made sure that everything online was fair and just to use as they please. This is where we get Net Neutrality from! (GASP)
However, it didn’t make it past the ruling because there were some questions behind it and it wasn’t a fool proof plan. It also lacked the authority to make these rules happen. The court didn’t rule against the idea but they did vote against it because it could not be enforced. They even suggested that redoing the idea over would give some power to it. They thought it as a great concept, but it wasn’t quite there yet.
Redo?
Yes, a redo. That’s what the court wants so that’s what they’ll get. But this isn’t a redo like starting over completely, it’s more of like looking back over the 1996 Telecommunications Act and seeing how they feel after that. In this Act, it strictly states that the Internet wasn’t intended to be treated the same way as other means of communication. Since it has such a variety of access networks, the FCC is required to treat the network owners as “common carriers.” This means that they couldn’t discriminate against the data that flows from one computer to another.
Net Neutrality and Business
If you are a small business owner, or some kind of entrepreneur, you constantly rely on open Internet to get your business started. This is how advertising for small businesses thrive in the real world. If there is no Open Internet, unemployment will rise and there will be no competition between businesses. The company with the most money that Daddy gives them will thrive while the smaller ones will smolder on the ground. Doesn’t sound fair right? Who knows who will have the next best idea to help the world. But sadly this will never happen if there is no open internet. The next big idea could be overlooked and who knows what good it will do to society.
Ethnic Justice?
People of color could not get their points of view about racism across without open internet. Everyday people of all ethnicity groups are constantly terrorized because of their ethnicity. ISP’s could block media saying anything about it. It will go unnoticed and swept under the rug. However, with Net Neutrality their voices can be heard and there can be justice for certain peoples wrong doings. The internet plays a vital role in social and ethnic justice, and without it who knows what could happen?
Sites for reference:
http://www.savetheinternet.com/net-neutrality-what-you-need-know-now
https://www.aclu.org/feature/what-net-neutrality
https://www.whitehouse.gov/net-neutrality
Jesse Brasher 