Net Neutrality
Net neutrality is a key concept to making sure that the Internet remains free and available for everyone. It is the Internet’s guiding principle that preserves the right to communicate freely online. Essentially, this idea boils down to the notion that Internet providers cannot slow down or block access to certain websites of their choosing. Just as a phone company cannot restrict whom you have access to call or cannot call, so should Internet providers not be allowed to block access to certain websites of their choosing. If this was to occur, Internet providers could block access to websites for monetary gain or force companies to pay them for consumers to have access to their site. Recently, Internet providers sued the FCC because they said the restrictions put on them to uphold net neutrality were too severe. However, the companies lost in a 2 to 1 decision meaning the laws that uphold net neutrality will continue to be kept in place.
Basically everyone is affected in this debate for net neutrality. Internet providers stand to gain a lot if the decision is overturned because it will allow them to greatly monetize providing Internet. Conversely everyone who uses the Internet could be affected if net neutrality is not upheld. We all use the Internet every day and frequent a myriad of different websites. However if we lose net neutrality, we could lose access to many of the options we have grown accustomed to. Certain websites, messaging apps, and aspects of the Internet could be lost because our Internet providers now restrict our access to these types of sites.
Although technically we have won the decision as of now to upheld net neutrality, it does not mean that it will continue forever. Now that the FCC has reclassifies all Internet providers under different rules, it will begin to write new regulations that will shape their behavior. In addition, they can police the behavior of Internet providers if they deem them unfair. However, some companies like AT&T will continue to fight their case and have said they will take this matter all the way to the Supreme Court. Considering the AT&T recently merged with Time Warner Cable, this could have far reaching implications since they seem to hold a monopoly on providing Internet. The whole process could take a number of years and for now it seems that we will continue to reap the benefits of net neutrality. Having dealt with the issue to being overturned, the FCC will continue as planned with their formation of new rules for net neutrality.
