Net Neutrality is a term you may hear used on occasion and you likely have no idea how it affects you, or what the controversy is. However, just reading this article on your computer means you should know how the loss of it will affect your future use of the Internet.
It has to do with speed and cost.
Traditionally, with a few exceptions, the cable and phone companies have not blocked particular websites or discriminated in favor or against any of them. For the past decade, the FCC has made it clear it would punish a cable or phone company for deviating from providing “neutral” access. That is, my data I have placed on my server can reach you just as quickly as that from a huge company, such as Walmart.
In January, the FCC lost an important court decision, which said that the FCC does not have the authority to stop phone or cable companies from discriminating against websites or creating “fast” and “slow lanes” on the Internet—unless the FCC chooses to act under a particular part of the law known as Title II. Rather than act under Title II, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has proposed a rule that would permit the phone and cable companies to engage in discrimination, subject to fairly useless conditions.
The FCC has received tens of thousands of citizen comments and stern letters from open Internet supporters in the Senate and Congress. The president—who repeatedly promised that he would ensure neutral access to the Internet without paid-for fast lanes—has provided almost no support for Wheeler, with the White House issuing distancing press statements.
Comedian John Oliver, who recently went on the air with his own cable television show after leaving Comedy Central’s, The Daily Show with John Stewart, produced a 13 minute skit that addresses “Net Neutrality.”
His comedic delivery of the issue is far more descriptive of the threat and, though infused with humor, does more in providing the public an understanding of why the loss of Net Neutrality is a threat to all of us, whether you are small business owners, website administrators, the casual user looking for a better price on a product, or just a cRaZy histrionic blogger talking to yourself by creating your own anonymous comments on your own blog.
We all should be given equal service on the Internet without paying a premium for it.
Take a few minutes to watch the John Oliver video below and leave a comment supporting Net Neutrality at the FCC website.
Disclaimer: On January 4, 2016, the owner of WestEastonPA.com began serving on the West Easton Council following an election. Postings and all content found on this website are the opinions of Matthew A. Dees and may not necessarily represent the opinion of the governing body for The Borough of West Easton.
