Is the end on “net neutrality” good or bad? It’s a complex question. Let’s start by defining it. Net neutrality is the concept of treating all data and websites on the internet, the same. This would seem to be a no-brainer, but it is not.
Since the internet became available to us through a browser (about 1995) there has been contention between large providers on one side and the public and small providers on the other. In 2005 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) formalized net neutrality.
At the time they said they were doing it “to preserve and promote the vibrant and open character of the internet as the telecommunications marketplace enters the broadband age.” Since then there have been several attempts to pass laws related to net neutrality. They all failed. What did the FCC statement mean and why did people want to make changes?
In plain language, net neutrality means that companies like Comcast, AT&T and other internet providers, can’t give priority to one website over another. For example, suppose you’re a new startup company that has a great idea for streaming movies, and you think that you can successfully compete against the big guys, like Netflix and Amazon.
The Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like Comcast and AT&T, could slow down your website or, if you’re willing to pay, speed it up. Even worse, if an ISP owned a site (like Comcast owns NBC) they could speed up the sites that they own and slow down their competitors.
Another action that ISPs could take if there was no net neutrality is blocking sites, though the content of those sites is legal. Pornography, for instance, might fall into this category.
The current administration in Washington, in line with its attempts to roll back what it considers onerous regulations on many industries, have rolled back the 2005 FCC rules described above.
The ISPs have pledged to maintain an open internet, even though they’re not required by law to do so. Most people who follow the tech industries don’t believe that this will be the long term situation. The landscape for internet, TV and other “screen” related stuff (like pads and cellphones) is changing almost daily.
One interesting example is the fight between Comcast and Disney about which of them will end up acquiring most of the assets of 21st Century Fox. Both of these suitors are already behemoths. Whichever one succeeds here will be an even bigger 500-pound gorilla in the room.
Within the past few days (as I write this) the California legislature has passed what it hopes will become law, making it mandatory to maintain net neutrality in our state. Several other states are working on similar bills.
If they become law, it could make it really expensive for the ISPs to have different rules in different states. The right answer here (in my opinion) is to pass a law at the Federal level that reinstates the 2005 FCC rules. Under the present administration, this isn’t going to happen.
Since the repeal of the FCC rules, we haven’t seen any differences. But stay tuned.
Al Loebel is a retired technology consultant with over 50 years of high tech experience. He can be reached at Al*******@Ou*****.com.
