There’s been lots of discuss Net Neutrality over time, followed by some recent high profile opinions. But what’s Net Neutrality?
Essentially it means that all the websites, information and platforms online should be treated equally and should be accessible to all. This enables the Internet to be reachable in exactly the same manner a public library in your neighborhood would be: not blocking access to specific information or sites or favoring anyone.
Lately Verizon brought suit against its Open Internet rules and the FCC. The opinion was a tremendous triumph for telecom firms that supply Internet service. What this means is that Internet service providers (ISPs) can charge specific businesses more or offer preferential treatment.
In 1996, the FCC set into position regulations that are updated based on the technology of the time. The rules were summarized in the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Verizon managed to convince the court the act didn’t extend to the Internet. Since the Internet was reachable only via a dialup connection, the Internet fell under the Telecommunications Act.
It’s unlikely that the typical Internet user would be impacted by this choice as much as it’d the data suppliers. For example, AT&T may have a partnership with Netflix that enables AT&T customers super fast streaming, so you must chose your ISP based on these ventures while Verizon has a venture with Red Box, rather than their price of services.
Low costs might seem great in the beginning but the low costs do’t look as pleasant when you ca’t get specific sites because they have been blocked by your ISP.
Optimists are particular this opinion isn’t going to continue. They may be optimistic that the FCC will shortly rewrite its Open Internet rules or support the drafting of a new telecommunications act to cover ISPs and broadband service.
In response to the recent conclusion, Obama said, “The one great bit of news was that the court did affirm that this space can be regulated by the FCC. They’ve power.” Now the question is will they use this power? FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler declared that the FCC is about to disclose a strategy for keeping the Internet open with support from the president and pressure from Congress.
The FCC has the upper hand, provided that they act quickly, despite suffering a defeat in court. For years the Internet stayed open for all underneath regulations that were antiquated. The FCC has authority in Net Neutrality cases. The office only must update language and re-categorize several things that’ll pull back these ISPs under the FCC’s umbrella of control. It will make rules affecting future technological changes if the FCC has learned from this error.