One of the longest-running debates over internet access is about to reach a new resolution, and the results could affect everything you do online.
You may remember the net neutrality debate from a decade ago. Net neutrality guidelines were originally voted in by the FCC during the Obama administration and then ended in 2017 by the FCC under Donald Trump. Now, under President Joe Biden, the code is getting a new boost.
In September, FCC Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed reinstating net neutrality rules, with the agency preparing to vote on April 25.
Net neutrality is the principle that all internet traffic should be treated equally, meaning your broadband provider will not prioritize its traffic based on whether those websites pay extra or have special services that slow down or speed you up The speed of the website being accessed. Relationship with your provider. For example, if you get your internet through Comcast, it shouldn’t speed up access to its own streaming service, Peacock, while slowing down rival services like Netflix and Disney Plus.
Free Press co-CEO Jessica J. González said restoring net neutrality rules should be a top priority. The Free Press is the media and technology watchdog.
“People across the country are demanding these open internet safeguards, which will allow the FCC to ensure that everyone in America—regardless of their location, political beliefs, race, or income—has free access to affordable, reliable and secure internet connection. Protection from discrimination, blocking or other ISP manipulation,” Gonzalez said in a statement in October.
Broadband providers deny they prioritize or slow down traffic based on financial gain, but there have been incidents in the past. A comprehensive discussion must also consider the need to simply manage large volumes of traffic. However, the new rules could provide safeguards against severe throttling or site prioritization.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation said last year that net neutrality regulations would “protect the Internet.”
“The idea that ISPs can block access to certain websites, slowing down rates and speeds for certain users is not only scary, but deeply unpopular,” the EFF said. “When ISPs impose tolls or put up roadblocks, damage occurs interests of all segments of society and undermines the right to internet access.”
What do the new net neutrality rules mean? When do they take effect?
In keeping with Obama-era rules, the FCC wants to reaffirm that broadband is an essential service, like water, electricity and telephone service, by designating it as a “common carrier” under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934.
Free Press said this would give the FCC the power to hold phone and cable companies like Verizon, AT&T and Xfinity accountable for outages and potential monopoly abuses and ensure the affordability and availability of internet service.
After soliciting comments and feedback, the FCC will vote on final rules to restore net neutrality on April 25.
How will net neutrality rules affect you?
The concept of net neutrality means preventing broadband and wireless providers from acting as gatekeepers to the content and speeds we can access.
An open and accessible internet has become an essential part of democracy and everyday life, enabling free speech, political organizing, activism, education, healthcare, shopping, entertainment and business opportunities.
The American Civil Liberties Union favors restoring net neutrality rules, calling the internet one of the most important communications services and saying everyone, regardless of income, race and ethnicity, should have access to affordable, fast and reliable broadband. During the COVID-19 pandemic, as more of us live online, the digital divide has become even more apparent.
“The Internet is our nation’s primary marketplace of ideas, and access to that market is unimpeded by the profit-seeking whims of powerful telecom giants,” Jenna Leventoff, senior policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement. Control of whims is crucial.”
What do ISPs think about net neutrality?
Many providers said they agreed with these principles. Comcast’s webpage on net neutrality says it “will not block, slow down or discriminate against lawful content.”
Comcast, which operates home broadband service Xfinity, said: “We are committed to providing our customers with sustainable and legally enforceable net neutrality protections.”
Verizon also said it supports net neutrality and a free and open internet.
“We will not throttle or slow down any Internet traffic based on its source or content,” Verizon’s Broadband Promise states. “We will not accept payment from any company to make traffic faster or slower than other traffic on our consumer broadband service.” We do not serve our affiliates’ Internet traffic faster or earlier than third parties. We do not prioritize traffic in a way that harms competition or consumers.”
So with such a promise, do we still need net neutrality rules? A few years ago, ISPs were slowing traffic for streaming services like YouTube and Netflix, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said, citing research from Northeastern University.
Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union said AT&T is allowing its customers to stream its own product, DirecTV Now, without counting it against monthly data caps. After California passed its net neutrality law in 2021, AT&T stopped this practice.
Action at the state level has been driving net neutrality efforts in recent years. California, Oregon, Washington, Vermont, Maine and Colorado have passed legislation, while at least four other states have passed executive orders mandating net neutrality.
The American Civil Liberties Union said one “subtle” form of net neutrality violations that are easier to spot today is when wireless providers offer customers discounts or include certain streaming services, saying the companies “are promoting certain streaming services to competitors.” network services”.
How much control does the FCC have?
ISPs and affiliated trade associations insist net neutrality regulations are unnecessary and say they could actually hurt us.
Joel Thayer, president of the advocacy group Digital Progress Institute, told CNET there was no reason for regulation after net neutrality was repealed in 2017.
“Since these rules were repealed, there has not been a case of an ISP blocking a website or slowing down access to anything you want to view,” he said. “All net neutrality violations occur on the technical side of the web, beyond The jurisdiction of the FCC.”
What happens outside the FCC’s jurisdiction? While internet providers continue to expand and diversify among cable carriers, wireless companies and thousands of smaller providers, Thayer points to “four companies” that control online access and competition: Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta.
“Google owns more than 90 percent of the search market and 80 percent of the ad tech market,” he said. “Apple has an iron grip on iPhone users.”
Thayer pointed out that the Federal Trade Commission is already responsible for protecting consumers from monopoly issues. Indeed, Google already faces an antitrust lawsuit accusing it of monopolizing online advertising and another alleging it monopolizes online search; Apple won an antitrust lawsuit earlier this year over in-app payments, and is to follow. Will face lawsuits over Apple Pay; Meta faces antitrust charges for its alleged social media monopoly, and the Federal Trade Commission is reportedly preparing to file an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon’s online retail empire.
“I think the ISP industry is the least of customers’ concerns. No customers are complaining about that,” AT&T CEO John Stankey said on Oct. 19 during AT&T’s third-quarter earnings call.
But these four tech giants aren’t the companies that run internet lines in people’s houses or apartments and charge them to get online (although Google Fiber has a modest footprint).
While Apple, Google, Meta and Amazon They supported net neutrality rules as early as 2017, but none responded to requests for comment on the FCC’s latest efforts.
Will net neutrality harm broadband access?
Thayer argued that net neutrality would interfere with legitimate network management concerns by imposing blanket rules on traffic prioritization — for example, it would impact applications such as gaming that require higher throughput.
The same goes for streaming TV and movies. “Because of the incredible amount of bandwidth, the FCC’s action will really only have an adverse impact on these services,” Thayer said. “Given that most people are migrating to wireless technologies to access these services over 5G networks, all of this requires high throughput and network prioritization.”
CTIA, the trade association representing the wireless communications industry, mentioned support for an open internet on its net neutrality page. But responding to the FCC’s decision, CTIA CEO Meredith Attwell Baker said net neutrality “undermines our ability to achieve these goals while also putting America’s competitiveness at risk. “
“The FCC should focus on closing the digital divide, promoting competition, and facilitating access to the spectrum we need for investment and innovation,” she said on Oct. 19.
Telecommunications Industry Association CEO Jonathan Spalter called on Congress to pass its own net neutrality legislation, as states and voters across the country have done.
“Retrofitting outdated rules on today’s highly competitive broadband networks is simply the wrong approach,” Spalter said. “Congress must step in to end this ridiculous cycle of regulatory rinse and repeat.”