Net-Neutrality? What does it mean for you?
Now a days you cannot search the net without coming across this term, but what does it mean? Basically, it’s an unwritten rule that ensures all users have equal rights. You can send and receive information equally. Businesses, both small and large, have level playing fields when it comes to site visitors. Search engine providers cannot filter a user’s access to companies that rival those of their paying advertisers. It’s a philosophy that has worked since the beginning of the World Wide Web. Some refer to it as the ‘First Amendment’ of the net. There has been no need for government intervention or laws that enforce net neutrality, but that may all change soon.
The government may soon give the FCC carte blanche to regulate internet providers, like Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, etc. Of course there are pros and cons to almost every action, so I’ll try to be fair in my opinions. Let’s start with the pros, shall we. Regulations can help to control the untold illegal activities that are quite rampant over the net. They can help prevent phishing schemes, identity theft and other very costly and damaging activities. Regulations to protect innocent victims always sound great and, in theory, are necessary; but let’s have a look at the cons for a moment. Internet regulations to prevent child pornography are already in place and that hasn’t exactly prevented the bombardment of this filth. There is a reason net neutrality is referred to as the “First Amendment” of the internet and opponents of regulations fear they will stifle freedom of expression. Regulations will mean limited access to the far-reaching sources of information available today. And, personally, whenever there is talk of government expansion, I see my liberties fading like the day’s sun.
Now here is where I get a bit angry with this situation. Earlier this year the FCC tried to place net neutrality regulations on internet providers, but their attempts where unanimously thwarted by a Federal Appeals Court. Soon after the ruling, the FCC tried to do an end run around this ruling by reclassifying broadband services as telecommunications services. What does this mean, you might ask yourself? It means they were trying to use regulations that were already in place for analog telephone systems towards the internet.
The FCC’s attempts to grant themselves power over the internet is sacrilege. Only Congress can grant them power, but their numerous attempts to circumvent the American people have not gone unnoticed. One more ‘con’ I should point out is the cost and the loss of jobs if these regulations pass. In a study released from the New York Law School, regulating high-speed internet services could cost the economy billion a year over the next five years and the loss of over 500,000 jobs. So, you can decide for yourself, net neutrality as it stands or more government intervention.