Why We Need Net Neutrality
Explaining the disastrous consequences of the repeal of net neutrality
Net neutrality is the idea that internet service providers should not block specific content based on user, content, website, platform, application, type of attached equipment, or method of communication. Enforced by Obama, it has ensured that Americans are given access to all information and data, regardless of the source.
However, last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) repealed net neutrality, reversing the rules that increased oversight over broadband providers in 2015. Despite the wishes of the 83 percent of Americans who opposed the action, the decision was made on a 3–2 vote; Trump-appointed FCC chief Ajit Pai and commissioners Brendan Carr and Michael O’Rielly voted for it, and commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel voted against it.
The decision has received a great deal of backlash, and companies like Netflix, Amazon, and Facebook condemn it. As Netflix tweeted, “This is the beginning of a longer legal battle. Netflix stands w/ innovators, large & small, to oppose this misguided FCC order.” It is also seen as a harm towards Americans as, according to Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, “An open internet is critical for new ideas and economic opportunity — and internet providers shouldn’t be able to decide what people can see online or charge more for certain websites.”
To the relief of many, a few actions will be taken to try and overturn the FCC’s action. The first is a bill that Sen. Ed Markey (D-M.A.), on Thursday after the FCC vote, announced that he, along with 19 other senators, would introduce. Furthermore, he explained that Rep. Mike Doyle (D-P.A.) would introduce a companion version to the House.
Additionally, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced on Friday that he intends to force a vote on it in order to overturn the FCC decision. It will be done using the Congressional Review Act (CRA) which gives Congress the ability to repeal agency rules. Schumer, in a press conference at WeWork’s headquarters in New York, stated that,
“One, this CRA doesn’t need the support of the majority leader. We can bring it to the floor and force a vote. So, there will be a vote to repeal the rule that the FCC passed.”
Although the Republican majority in both chambers would lower the odds of passing the bill, there have been a few GOP members, one being Sen. Susan Collins (R-M.A.), that oppose the FCC’s move. Net neutrality supporters intend on pressuring lawmakers to help pass the bill, but it is unclear how many Republican lawmakers will vote for it. As summarized by Markey, the bill will present an important choice to lawmakers who will either “be on the right side of history and stand with the American people who support net neutrality, or hold hands with big corporations who only want to increase their profits at the expense of consumers and our economy.”
In addition, eighteen state attorneys, including Washington and New York have proposed an investigation over the almost 11 million fake comments that supported the FCC decision using stolen American identities which were revealed on Wednesday. New York’s Eric Schneiderman has also announced that he would lead a multi-state lawsuit against the FCC. Other attorney generals have announced their opposition to net neutrality such as Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson who explained that,
“Allowing internet service providers to discriminate based on content undermines a free and open internet.”
The future of net neutrality is uncertain, and in the event that the FCC decision is not overturned, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) would be allowed to control the content that their consumers can view, charge various content providers differing amounts, and even block certain ones as well. It would increase the costs for consumers since content providers would transfer the costs to their customers. This repeal could also reduce the services available if content providers cannot pay the fees that the ISPs charge.
As a high school student who needs the internet for school and learning, I am outraged at the blatant disregard for our internet rights. Although that sounds like a trivial problem as I know many people do not have internet access, the fact that our government is okay with letting big companies control our use of the internet proves that they value big corporations over the rights of their own people. And this is wrong.
Only time will tell what happens to net neutrality, but for the sake of our country, let’s hope that it is restored.
