Monday, February 2, 2015

The F.C.C. has come to its senses

     According to the article, "In Net Neutrality Push, F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating Internet Service as a Utility", the F.C.C. is expected to propose legislation that would classify the Internet as a utility under Title II of the Communications Act. More specifically, this would make high-speed Internet a telecommunications service as way of ensuring the principle of net neutrality which forces Internet providers to treat all data equally no matter who created it. The F.C.C. is attempting to create regulations that will stand up to legal scrutiny while being politically acceptable. President Obama has called for the protection of the open internet as more and more people use it as a part of their daily lives. The Internet Association has also spoken out in favor of net neutrality. This elite association includes companies such as Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Netflix. Those who would stand to gain from the destruction of net neutrality are the monopolies of cable companies like Time Warner and Comcast along with other Internet providers such as AT&T. 

     My opinion on this issue is very clear, net neutrality must be maintained. Internet service providers do not have the right to pick and choose what data can travel at which speeds. Abolishing neutrality would allow these companies to maintain control over the internet through download speed times as start-up companies would not be able to pay fees to the providers for faster download speeds. Making the Internet a utility is a great plan in my opinion. Companies do not pay electricity providers extra fee to make their lights brighter, so a company should also not have to pay an internet provider an extra fee for quicker download times. The internet is a free and level playing field for all to create, explore, and live. Maintaining net neutrality will help to ensure that the Internet remains as a beacon of progress in the modern world.

Below are some links to videos that go more in-depth on net neutrality, and its significance to the modern world...

John Oliver (WARNING- Some inappropriate language is used; Comedic take on the issue that actually does a good job of giving background information on net neutrality): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpbOEoRrHyU

Hank Green (Down to earth representation of the arguments of both the Internet user and Internet provider): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc2aso6W7jQ

GCP Grey (Really technical but cool explanation of the concept of net neutrality): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtt2aSV8wdw   

2 comments:

  1. I agree with Andrew that net neutrality is definitely a must. I don't think that it is fair for companies to be able to charge more for certain Internet speeds when most people use the internet on a regular basis. I hope that classifying Internet as a utility actually works out.

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  2. Net neutrality should be a basic right in today's society. Cell phone companies already essentially have monopolies, and this would make them even more controlling. I hope this stays this way as well.

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