Net Neutrality and The Government Shutdown

To many, the phrase ‘net neutrality’ might seem daunting and confusing. One might think it’s a government policy that only affects a minor niche of people in America.  In fact, it is crucial that everyone inform themselves about this policy, as well as some basic arguments in favor of and against net neutrality.

So what is net neutrality and why should you care? Net neutrality refers to Internet usage and the distribution of speeds for certain websites. Under net neutrality, all Internet Service Providers, or ISPs (such as Comcast or Verizon), are required to load all websites at the same speed without priority beyond the limits of the individual consumer’s connection. For example if consumer A has a connection speed of 100 MB/second and Consumer B has connection speeds of 25 MB/second, then all of consumer A’s websites must load at 100 MB/second, while all the data will load for consumer Bat 25 MB/second. The ISP is mandated to load all web pages at the same rate, regardless of how many people use that site.

As of December 14, 2017, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission)  voted 3-2 in favor of repealing regulations on Net Neutrality." According to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, the net neutrality regulations, which were adopted in 2015, are meaningless as “there was no problem to solve.” Pai also notes that the Internet has made tremendous strides since it first was introduced to the public. Even in the past few years, internet connectivity speeds have dramatically increased and more users have access in more rural areas. Pai states that the free market, with limited government regulation, was beneficial for the consumer. In fact, consumers in rural areas were paying more as a result of the newly imposed Net Neutrality regulations, as smaller ISPs has to tread water with the limited resources they had.

A common analogy used in describing net neutrality is a freeway. In this situation, each individual website is a vehicle on the freeway. In the many lanes of the freeway, the lanes on the far right are the lanes with the most traffic. In the scenario where all websites load at the same speed, the nicer, more luxurious cars must travel at the same speed as the run-down junkers. All lanes are going at the same speed. In the scenario where the net neutrality regulations are gone, the more luxurious cars(large websites) are able to bypass the traffic by creating their own ‘faster’ lane. This lane has fewer cars as less are able to afford the faster lane.

Larger companies can bypass the traffic by paying the ISP(the owner of the freeway)

However, many disagree with Chairman Pai’s sentiments.  Supporters of net neutrality, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, are concerned that without  regulations, Internet Service Providers “will have the power to block access, to filter content, [and] charge more” for internet access. Senator Warren’s concerns are justified. With the deregulation of net neutrality, ISPs will be able to slow down speeds of any websites that they choose and then demand that these websites pay a premium in order to achieve faster speeds." Additionally if an ISP produces its own content (such is the case with companies such as Comcast) then the ISP will have the incentive to increase download speeds for their own content and delay other competitors.

This scenario  has happened before. In 2014, Netflix users reported dramatically slower streaming speeds through ISPs of Verizon and Comcast. As it turns out, these ISPs were in fact significantly slowing down Netflix streaming speeds. As more and more Netflix subscribers grew furious with the company, Netflix lost customers and significant revenue. In order to stop the bleeding, Netflix agreed to pay Comcast and Verizon in turn for faster streaming speeds. Ever since, Netflix speeds have skyrocketed on those ISPs and many others as well.

While these concerns are legitimate, Chairman Pai says he is confident that ISPs will not overstep their boundaries and ultimately harm the everyday consumer. As Pai states, “broadband providers will have extra incentives to build networks, especially in unserved areas,” a sign of “a freer more open internet.” Pai goes on to add that ISPs will need to be more “transparent” about their company’s actions. ISPs must alert consumers if they intend to slow down a certain website’s connection speeds or else be subject to severe consequences. This accountability on behalf of the ISPs, according to Pai, will ensure that they will operate fairly.

So far, in the immediate aftermath of the resolution, no significant changes to website access have been reported. But, as with many  complex political issues, it's imperative that you, the consumer, keep yourself informed.