Currently, there are no limitations imposed on what individuals’ access, upload or download via the Internet. Net Neutrality is the concept that Internet Service Providers (ISP) will NOT be able “to block, degrade or charge extra for legal content and applications that run on the Net” which provides individuals the freedom to roam about the web.
Through my research, I found numerous articles and opinions written based on the recent decision by the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in the case of Verizon v. Federal Communications Commission (2014). According to an article by Brian Fung of the Washington Post, this decision essentially “struck down the Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality rules, which prohibited Internet providers from blocking or prioritizing Web traffic”.
Based on my understanding of this decision, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) does not have any authority over the ISPs simply because of their current classification which was established by the FCC. Aside from appealing the recent Court decision, the FCC could reclassify ISPs as common-carrier services like the telephone companies, or change their rules as they pertain to these specific providers.
What could this mean to consumers if this decision is upheld? Most likely, increased fees imposed by the content companies to absorb the additional fees they are charged to provide their content at faster speeds, or suffer the consequence of limited access to the content available on the Internet. This begs the question, how much could they charge and who would regulate those particular fees, if anyone?
Based on the way individuals and corporations access the Internet as part of their daily routines, the regulations of Net Neutrality are a concern for all of us.
References:
Fung, Brian. (2014) Washington Post. Retrieved from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/01/14/d-c-circuit-court-strikes-down-net-neutrality-rules/
Verizon/FCC Image: Retrieved from: http://www.howardforums.com/content.php/1583-Breaking-Down-Verizon-v-FCC
Colleen
ReplyDeleteYou are correct when you say that the Internet is a part of everyone’s daily routines, and that net neutrality should be a concern for all of us. More control over the Internet itself probably won’t be a good thing, and could lead to more censorship and less privacy.
I totally agree
DeleteThe current classification of internet traffic being "information" and not a form of "communication" only provides another way for the ISPs to increase their bottom line by charging for the type and amount of data that is transmitted. They can also give priority to some users and sources and deny others completely. This is the complete opposite to what the internet was developed for.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that they will increase the pricing instead of limiting the access to the information that the internet provides. It is the same process over and over again, the end user are saddled with the high prices. It would be nice if everyone that uses the internet had a voice on the decisions making and not big corporations. I believe the people would just leave the net neutrality as it is now and in some cases give better services to those who's services are poor.
ReplyDelete