Net neutrality keeps the Internet open by stopping ISPs from slowing or blocking rival content. Here’s why the FCC’s plan to repeal it matters — and what you can do about it.
1 What Net Neutrality Means
Net neutrality is a clumsy phrase used to describe a concept vital to an open Internet. Simply put, it means that giant corporations who own Internet delivery services—also known as Internet Service Providers or ISPs—should not be able to slow down or even choke off their competitors’ content. In other words, the free flow of all Internet content should not be restrained by a company’s desire or ability to do so.
2 The Plan to Repeal the Rules
The Obama administration agreed with this view and in 2015 put rules in place to sustain net neutrality. Now those rules are in jeopardy under the new administration.
Ajit Pai, formerly a lawyer for Verizon and now the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), wants to repeal net neutrality. This month he unveiled a plan to roll back current regulations, claiming that, “The more heavily you regulate something, the less of it you’re going to get.”
3 The Investment Argument — and the Pushback
This, in a nutshell, is the essence of the Trump administration’s argument against net neutrality: that the Obama-era regulations will discourage broadband investment. John Oliver, however, in his weekly HBO program “Last Week Tonight,” recently countered that argument by playing a Dec. 9, 2014 audio clip from Francis J. Shammo, Executive VP and CFO of Verizon.
I mean, to be real clear, I mean, this does not influence the way we invest. I mean, we’re going to invest in our networks and platforms, both in wireless and wireline Fios and where we need to. So nothing will influence that.
Speaking of the then-pending Obama FCC regulations, Shammo told Verizon’s investors with the words above.
More recently, Mark Stodden of Moody’s Investors Service, who analyzes such telecom companies as Verizon and AT&T, told the Associated Press, “From where we sit, the overall level of investment in the business is still pretty strong.” He added, “I hear companies complaining about net neutrality and Title II [the regulation the Obama administration used to implement net neutrality in 2015], but I think it’s a cop-out. I don’t think they’re actually spending less. They don’t like it, so they complain about it.”
4 Why ISPs Want It Gone
And why are they complaining? Because stifling competition is always the go-to move for big businesses. Less competition means more business, and if you’re strong enough to choke out nearly all your competition, so much the better. You don’t have to compete on price, quality, or service if you’re pretty much the only game in town.
Several high-profile ISPs, including Comcast and Charter Communications, took out a full-page ad which ran in several major newspapers this May, claiming that “we do not block, throttle or otherwise impair your online activity,” although Oliver’s segment on the subject showed that it has already happened. And on May 23, an open-Internet group called Fight for the Future reported that Comcast is threatening legal action against them, issuing a cease-and-desist order claiming the group’s website is infringing on Comcast’s trademark.
“If Ajit Pai’s plan is enacted, there would be nothing preventing Comcast from simply blocking sites like (ours) that are critical of their corporate policies,” said Even Greer, Fight for the Future’s campaign director.
5 What You Can Do
So the net-neutrality wars go on. Billshark will continue to keep you updated on this battle to maintain your unfettered access to everything you want to see on the Internet. Meanwhile, you can register a comment with the FCC, and contact your elected representatives to let them know what you think about this important issue.
Share:
Billshark · Bill Negotiation Experts Helping consumers and small businesses stop overpaying on recurring bills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is net neutrality?
Net neutrality is a concept vital to an open Internet. It means that the giant corporations who own Internet delivery services, known as Internet Service Providers or ISPs, should not be able to slow down or choke off their competitors' content. In short, the free flow of all Internet content should not be restrained by a company's desire or ability to do so.
Who wants to repeal net neutrality and why?
Ajit Pai, formerly a lawyer for Verizon and now head of the Federal Communications Commission, unveiled a plan to roll back the current rules. He claims that the more heavily you regulate something, the less of it you get. The broader argument is that the Obama-era regulations put in place in 2015 will discourage broadband investment.
Do the rules actually reduce broadband investment?
Critics say no. Verizon's CFO Francis Shammo told investors in 2014 that the pending regulations would not influence how the company invests. Mark Stodden of Moody's Investors Service said the overall level of investment is still pretty strong and called the complaints about Title II a cop-out, adding that companies are not actually spending less.
How could repealing net neutrality affect ISPs and websites?
Without the rules, ISPs would face fewer limits on blocking or throttling content. Comcast and Charter ran a full-page ad saying they do not block, throttle, or impair online activity, yet Comcast threatened legal action against the open-Internet group Fight for the Future. The group's director warned that nothing would prevent Comcast from blocking sites critical of its policies.
What can I do about net neutrality?
You can register a comment with the FCC and contact your elected representatives to let them know what you think about this important issue. Billshark will continue to keep you updated on the battle to maintain your unfettered access to everything you want to see on the Internet.
