Monday, March 2, 2015
10 Important Facts About the FCC’s Net Neutrality Rules
Things have drastically changed for the Internet after the Federal Communications Commission passed the new rules cheered by President Obama. But how will these changes impact you?
Obama promises the new rules will “even out” the playing field. Opponents warn about new taxes. But who’s right and how do we get to the bottom of it? Maybe these 10 important facts about the FCC’s Net Neutrality rules may help you decide.
1- Obama’s Net Neutrality Means Fewer Choices, Less Freedom
To Obama, net neutrality means not allowing consumers to choose what they want to spend their money on. To the FCC and the President, web site operators should never have the option of spending more money to ensure that content gets delivered as promised. Obama’s net neutrality ensures certain services and applications are limited simply because start-ups and small business may hurt if they cannot compete “mano a mano” with the big dogs.
By ensuring the standards are low to everybody, the new net neutrality rules do not give you access to better services if you’re willing to pay for it.
2- New Rules Reclassify Broadband
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler had one goal in mind: reclassify the Internet by categorizing it as a telecom service instead of referring to it as an information service.
That is not just a sign of Wheeler’s unfamiliarity with what the Internet provides to consumers, it’s also a clear sign of what the new rules are all about: government control over the Internet. By reclassifying the Internet, the government is able to exert more control over it.
3- What We Have Now Is (Sorta) Net Neutrality
Exceptions exist, but as it stands, cable and wireless companies do not discriminate when it comes to similar types of web traffic. Broadband providers don’t use their technology to block or deliberately slow the exchange of data either. But to regulators, things are not right until government is involved. As a result, rules were put in place to restrain broadband providers even further. To gather support for the new rules, regulators claimed major companies were interested in manipulating the network. The fear mongering was so strong that support for the FCC rules became widespread.
4- Rules Will Thwart Innovation
Smaller Internet businesses and other start-ups have been fervent proponents of the new FCC rules, but not too long ago, the wireless industry was heavily against net neutrality regulations. In 2010, when the FCC passed several regulations covering the Internet, the industry argued the new rules would decelerate innovation. As a result, only a few transparency rules were enforced. But now, new rules impact everybody, especially if you’re a consumer.
From now on, anything you use to have access to the Internet, whether it’s a PC, a tablet, phone, Macbook, etc. will have to comply with the new rules. Internet providers will also have to abide by the same three rules: no blocking, no restraint toward competitors, and no paid prioritization. But if the rules are so black and white, why are so many people so angry about them?
5- FCC’s Rules Aren’t Predictable
New FCC regulations may not sound all that bad to you, but what if I told you that they are unpredictable? Would you still trust Obama and the bureaucrats?
According to cable and wireless companies and some Republicans who strongly opposed the new rules, uncertainty makes it hard for Internet providers to know what they are dealing with. Not knowing what the legal battles you will have to pick ahead before launching a program or a service can be damaging not only to the companies, but also to consumers.
Full article: http://www.voicesofl … et-neutrality-rules/
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