Net neutrality regulations are critical to the openness and innovation of the Internet. It is a concept that has been built into the creation of the Internet since its foundations almost 30 years ago. Without net neutrality, major internet service providers (ISP) the likes of Verizon and Comcast would be able to segregate content. In the best-case scenario, this would allow money, both from the customer and web platforms, to dictate which content and companies have faster access. In a worst-case scenario, free speech and ideology will be throttled and blocked because it does not agree with those in power. Considering the Internet is becoming the primary and prominent means for all collection of media, information, and communication; eliminating net neutrality would virtually put tremendous power in the hands of the handful of broadband providers which in turn can be influenced by money or even government policy to monitor traffic that is not beneficial to them (Finley, 2020).
Net neutrality is inherently a civil rights issue despite many people being unaware of its prominence. It is a highly technical approach, but net neutrality regulations are meant to address the status quo of the internet service providers in the United States. That status quo is that there are only about 6 major telecommunication broadband providers across the whole country, with many Americans having options between 1-2 of these, thus creating virtually no market competition. Furthermore, the broadband providers have direct technological capabilities to manipulate user data, this may range from redirecting traffic based on their needs as well as potentially scrutinizing every piece of data sent via the broadband networks (ACLU, 2017).
For most consumers who are not tech-savvy, even with the elimination of net neutrality, the effects will not be noticeable at first. ISPs have adopted a strategy of investing millions into lobbying Congress and then gradually implementing barriers to create an illusion for consumers that any potential changes to their internet speeds are part of a natural evolution of the market. It may be years or decades before worst-case scenarios of pay-for-access barriers are seen in regular internet traffic, but in the end, it will inherently financially benefit the service providers and large companies, not the consumer in any potential way (Marlow, 2018).
Net neutrality is an unsurprisingly politically divisive issue. Democrats believe in the protection of equality and that government should maintain net neutrality rules, while Republicans who typically minimize government interference in any sector, are generally against net neutrality. Under the Obama administration, net neutrality rules were enacted in 2015 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that essentially labeled ISPs as ‘common carriers’ similar to telephone service, thus disallowing any manipulation of traffic and data. Federal courts upheld the ruling stating that the FCC had the authority to implement such changes. However, once the Trump administration came to power, by 2017 these rules were scrapped. The final decision on net neutrality is currently tied up in courts and Congress (Collins, 2018). Although major broadband providers have publicly pledged not to throttle Internet traffic, it remains to be seen whether regulations will stand. The upcoming November election may play a significant role in the direction of the Internet for the next years, as Democratic candidate Joe Biden has publicly announced a telecommunications and technology strategy for the U.S. as part of his platform, with net neutrality standing as a foundational principle (Silver, 2020).
References
ACLU. (2017). What is net neutrality? Web.
Collins, K. (2018). Net Neutrality has officially been repealed. Here’s how that could affect you. The New York Times. Web.
Finley, K. (2020). The WIRED guide to net neutrality. WIRED. Web.
Marlow, C. (2018). This Is how net neutrality will end. ACLU. Web.
Silver, S. (2020). Biden administration would restore Obama-era net neutrality rules. The National Interest. Web.