Earlier in the beginning of the year the U.S. court of appeals overthrew the FCC's regulations on the Internet (often referred to as net neutrality laws). This came as a blow to advocates of a free internet policy where anyone or any entity has the same rights and treatments when it comes to Internet usage. With no actual rules dictating internet policy many people felt that no good could come from the courts decision.
Flashing forward to now, the FCC has just proposed their new plan of regulations for the internet. The rules unfortunately promote the very opposite of the original purpose of net neutrality laws and a free and open internet. The proposed rules could have companies like Google, Netflix, and Facebook, paying extra money to internet service providers for special, faster pipelines to the consumer. So in turn, the large, rich internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon will be able to make larger profits from companies all the while stifling competition and smaller start ups.
Could this possibly even be a good thing? Relatively it is. The new rules are clearly good for the big wigs in charge of these internet service providers who stand to only make more money. But for everyone else, these rules can only be interpreted as unfair and deplorable. Companies like Amazon or Netflix will be able to pay large sums of money to get access to these fast lanes of communication. With their costs increasing, it is not hard to fathom where they would look to recoup any losses: consumer prices. Consumers will end up bearing increased costs for a model of internet no longer equal and free of censorship and discrimination.
Sadly, FCC officials are defending their proposal, believing they still coincide with an open internet policy. The agency themselves would judge, case by case, if any charges by internet service providers were fair to the consumer. What I fail to understand is how these new rules and processes are any better than the rules before. What exactly is this promoting? How is this system advantageous to all but giant corporations? I'm left frustrated and disheartened, feeling like we're getting the short end of the stick. Here's to hoping things get better than worse.
Related Article: In Policy Shift, F.C.C. Will Allow a Web Fast Lane
No comments:
Post a Comment