So June 11, 2018 is probably one of the darkest days in Internet history. I say this because this was the day net neutrality ended. Here lies net neutrality, 2015-2018, rest in peace.
Under former President Barack Obama, they made this rule in 2015. It stopped ISP’s from charging and favoring websites they chose. Then, in December 2017, the FCC voted to repeal the 2015 rule. But this enraged Democrats, many states, and consumer rights and freedom advocate groups. They believe this repeal will create censorship and create unfair advantages. We can thank FCC Chairman Ajit Pai for this because he lead the charge for this repeal. Pai and his sympathizers claim net neutrality stifles innovation. I guess we’re about to see whose is right.
Pai also said the repeal will restore the Federal Trade Commission’s rule over the Internet providers. Here are a couple of rules that this repealing change. They include changes involving online blocking, throttling, and payments of certain things. Of course mega companies like Verizon and Comcast are happy. But even they are changing their business strategy. The repeal’s opponents are not through yet. Because everywhere, I’m seeing hashtag#SavetheInternet. Even a client of ours, who benefited from our laptops fixed? skills, are passing along the tag.
Now let’s go to me concerns. Pai himself said this repeal will give the FTC rule over service providers. How much rule? Also, how much control? I fear this ‘control’ could lead to censorship. Then there’s the equality factor. I can remember the 1990s and early 2000s, a time where anybody could get successful on the Internet. Anybody could be the next IT support star. But now, the Internet/IT service game is run by only a handful of media conglomerates: Google, Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Twitter, Microsoft. Then look at the ISP’s. There are only a few of them: Comcast, AT&T, Time Warner, Verizon FIOS. Is this competition? Will the end of net neutrality make it a level playing field?