Uncapping Our Internet
Right, enough talking about the UK, let’s go back to our shores and, today, discuss an exciting opportunity for internet users in the USA. On July 2022, Cory Booker and Ben Ray Luján introduced the “Uncap America Act”. Should the bill pass, it would help regulate data caps from internet providers and remove at least a portion of extra fees that come with access to high-speed internet. Let’s take a closer look.
Will It Work?
Now, the press release for this bill says its aims are to “put a stop to these costly data caps and increase competition and innovation in our growing digital economy. This legislation also empowers the FCC to protect Americans’ access to data while incentivizing additional investments in our national broadband infrastructure.”
That’s all very good and removing data caps and making broadband internet accessible to all Americans is a net positive no matter how you look at it. Ensuring that you don’t have to shell out extra money every month just to be able to play videogames, stream a TV show or even work is a necessity in our perpetually-online society. However, while the bill itself is good, it runs into a problem that most good initiatives run into: corporations aren’t stupid.
The bill suggests removing unjustified data caps that exist solely to make money while allowing caps in cases where they’re necessary for “network management”. In fact, it also states that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) shall “define the conditions under which a data cap is to be considered tailored to the purpose of reasonable network management or managing network congestion”. Sadly, a mix of lobbying and clever corporate-speak can easily lead us to a world where “predatory data caps” are banned but everyone’s internet still gets capped because Comcast ends up always having network congestion. Ensuring that the qualifier of “network management” isn’t abused will take a lot of negotiation between the FCC members and a keen eye to block any possible lobbying, as well as a pretty much constant pushback against corporations seeking to outwit the law.
Another big point is Booker and Luján’s idea of investing in the broadband infrastructure. Again, it sounds great on paper, more money to bring internet to every rural area is a good thing, right? Except that simply searching the words “Comcast” and “broadband financing” nets a string of results where you can see how our ISPs got financing over and over to make all of America connected. Odds are pouring more money into what seems like a clear mismanagement problem will not be the magic solution we’re looking for. Accountability would be a much better option, enforcing strict deadlines and expenditure tracking for the grants given to ISPs.
So… Is It Bad?
Don’t get me wrong, the bill itself is a wonderful idea. Removing data caps and having broadband in every household is a necessity if we want to truly be a modern country. While the EU has its own regions with issues, looking at the data on uncapped internet speeds in Finland or Poland will get your head spinning. It’s important to support initiatives like this one, even if they’re not perfect, because these small steps pave the way for a better country for us all. In fact, supporting the lawmakers who run these initiatives is absolutely crucial. Make sure your local representatives are on board with such bills.
