Net neutrality takes a drastic turn
The freedom of the internet is being challenged by the FCC and internet companies.
The Federal Communications Commission took aim at Obama’s signature law Net Neutrality, unveiling a plan that would give Internet providers broad powers to determine what websites and online services their customers see and use.
This bill would allow internet companies like AT&T and Comcast to be able to charge people higher fees to access certain websites and online services. The change will also allow companies to moderate and block competing websites. The “open web” would be theoretically shut down if this bill were to go through.
Ajit Pai, the Federal Communications Commission chairman, announced this bill to instant backlash from the community. People have opposed and shared concern about this so much that it has brought big companies to voice their opinions about this topic. One big challenger of this bill is Netflix, and they have publicly tweeted against this bill stating “Netflix supports strong #NetNeutrality. We oppose the FCC’s proposal to roll back these core protections.”
This repeal will be banning and or charging more and slowing connections for common websites such as YouTube, Steam and Twitch. This repeal will be making your viewing and streaming connections more difficult and expensive.
Though the eyes of the FCC, they believe that their helping the internet. Though this is simply untrue, this company is causing in a way a positive product which is the internet community is coming together to help unify and stop this from happening. So in a way I could see what they are trying to achieve with controlling the internet, but why do it leave the internet a free space for the public.
Comcast, AT&T, Verizon and the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) have spent $572 million on attempts to influence the FCC and other government agencies since 2008. This money has been used for campaigns and propaganda to try to repeal this law. This proposal is being called the restoring of internet freedom, when it represents the exact opposite of this title. This bill will block websites without your consent, charge you more for certain websites and services that were previously free and slow down your internet speeds drastically. This is very unconstitutional. If we deny access to websites that are considered a form of censorship and that is against freedom of expression; as a “free” country, shouldn’t we have the freedom to upload and view what we wish? What gives these companies the privilege to revoke this from us?
These companies have showed very devious behavior in the past. For instance, in late 2012, AT&T announced that it would cripple the FaceTime video calling app on its customers’ iPhones unless they subscribed to a more expensive text-and-voice plan. This action was a clear violation of Net Neutrality.
If the companies that want this repeal have already displayed this type of behavior, just imagine what they will do if this bill passes. We should be able to control what we monitor and view. Who is to tell us that certain websites cost more, and slow down and block others? What do you want, a watered down blocked, and more expensive internet? Or would you like to have a free open space with endless possibilities?
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