After years of debate and uncertainty, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted in favor of net neutrality, a decision that dramatically affects both consumers and companies.
In technical terms, net neutrality — which is also known as open Internet — is the “principle that Internet service providers . . . should give consumers access to all legal content and applications on an equal basis, without favoring some sources or blocking others.”
Essentially then, the new policy — which is known as Open Internet Order — makes it illegal for Internet service providers to treat various content providers (i.e. Google, Netflix, YouTube, etc.) differently by charging them different amounts to stream content over the Internet. The policy, which narrowly passed in a 3–2 vote, is a statement against denying open Internet to everyone; as FCC chairman Tom Wheeler said, “. . .no one — whether government or corporate — should control free open access to the Internet.”
Before the new policy was enacted, Internet service providers were wanting to divide the Internet into two different broadband speeds: the fast lane and the slow lane. If a company wanted their content delivered at high speeds to their consumers, they would have to pay the Internet service provider a higher fee. Companies that couldn’t pay the fee would then be forced to use the slow lane. As a result, the consumer requesting the content would inevitably suffer the repercussions as their content is delivered to them at a much slower speed and in a much poorer quality.
As you might expect, the passing of the policy has elicited cheers from various groups and people. The American Civil Liberties Union’s legislative counsel Gabe Rottman calls it “a victory for free speech, plain and simple. Americans use the Internet not just to work and play, but to discuss politics and learn about the world around them. The FCC has a critical role to play in protecting citizens’ ability to see what they want and say what they want online, without interference.”
President Obama commended the FCC, saying their “decision will protect innovation and create a level playing field for the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
He also applauded the efforts of everyone who petitioned in favor of net neutrality, noting that “more than 4 million people wrote in to the FCC, overwhelmingly in support of a free and fair Internet. Countless others spoke out on social media, petitioned their government, and stood up for what they believe.” According to President Obama, their activism played a large role in helping to get the FCC to rule in favor of net neutrality.
Still, others are criticizing the FCC’s new policy, citing concerns that the FCC is trying to control territory it has no control over. Specifically, Michael O’Rielly and Ajut Pai, the two who voted against the policy, “warned that the FCC was overstepping its authority and interfering in commerce to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.”
In addition, after the Open Internet Order was passed, “more than 20 Republican members of Congress” signed a letter claiming that the new policy will “threaten the future viability of the Internet and America’s ability to compete in the global technology marketplace.”
Internet service providers are chiding the new policy too, with some even hoping that the policy will be overturned. Jim Cicconi, AT&T’s head of public policy stated that the closeness of the 3–2 vote “is an invitation to revisiting the decision, over and over and over.”
Whether that happens or not remains to be seen. As for now, though, the new policy is in place, making the Internet fair and accessible to anyone.
Viva la Internet!