The End of Net Neutrality
The end of net neutrality would mean a weaker, less diverse, less effective Autistic community.
It is difficult to keep up with even major developments in American politics and policy today. It can be easy to lose sight of apparently small changes. One essential thing to keep up with in the coming days and weeks is the likely demise of net neutrality. This is a grave threat to the kind of Autistic community most of us consider worth having. The possible short-term impact on the best sites catering to us could be extremely damaging. The long-term implications, while more insidious and harder to predict, may be far worse. If you value a diverse, vibrant Autistic community in the United States, it is in your interest to spend some time this week protecting net neutrality.
Net neutrality is the idea that one’s internet connection treats content from different sources the same way. It is telecom companies providing access without trying to dictate what their customers see, just as power companies provide the same energy at the same rate regardless of the brand of laptop, microwave, or dryer plugged into the wall. It helps new voices be heard and new companies gain traction in ways which might be impossible if those who are already rich and powerful can essentially buy a monthly subscription to hobble competitors. This issue should be of concern to everyone who values innovation and growth, a point of unity and agreement for people who emphasize civil liberties and people who emphasize the free market.
It is particularly important to the Autistic community. If some sites can pay to be more reachable than others, that will change the game of success on the internet. There will be new winners and losers, and the odds aren’t in our favor. Nothing in the Autistic blogosphere has the money to compete with the likes of Facebook. The more Autistic people have to pay to compete in the marketplace of ideas, the less we will be heard.
Originally published at autisticfuture.com on December 10, 2017.
