An Impartial Internet: The Issue of Net Neutrality

AN IMPARTIAL INTERNET ΑΝ THE ISS UE OF N ET NEUT RALITY Many believe net neutrality is a complex and boring issue full of nothing but tech lingo and business speak. But it can easily be boiled down to the concern over censorship and greed, two concepts that everyone can understand. Let's take a look at the net neutrality debate and what every American voter should know. THE MAIN IsSue Network neutrality, typically shortened to net neutrality, is the idea that Internet providers allow the free flow of information among users without censorship, manipulation or interpretation." WHAT d oeS thiS mean?'2) SUPPORTERS OF NET NEUTRALITY SAY: VIP INTERNET SERVICE ISPS SHOULD NOT BE ISPS SHOULD NOT ISPS SHOULD NOT EXEMPT some companies from this data cap simply for paying more money. PROVIDERS should not be ALLOWED to block THROTTLE users' allowed to accept money from websites or applications to make their services run competing websites or applications from subscribers. bandwidth once they reach a predetermined data cap. faster for subscribers. AN EXAMPLE'2) NETFLIX WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM?(2) IF NETFLIX IS PAYING MORE to ISPS to be promoted in this way, you can bet higher subscription rates will be passed on to customers. The same goes for any popular service or application. Also, this kind of discrimination favors companies who can pay a lot of money to be seen. pays all ISPS a good amount of money to make sure users experience smooth streaming with little to no buffering. A HISTORY LessON Here's a brief timeline of the issue:) THE FEDERAL 2002 COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION makes a decision to treat cable Internet access differently and deregulates it. THE TERM "net neutrality" is coined by law professor Tim Wu. 2003 THE FCC MAKES ITS FIRST MOVE against an 2005 ISP, ordering Madison River Communications from North Carolina to stop blocking a voice calling service that competes with its own. ALSO, A SUPREME COURT DECISION allows the FCC to leave cable Internet access unregulated, and DSL is deregulated soon after. An Internet Policy Statement is issued to vaguely outline net neutrality rules for ISPS. AT&T CEO Edward Whitacre joins the conversation in favor of net neutrality. COMCAST INTERFERES WITH BITTORRENT traffic 2007 on its network to discourage and eventually block subscribers from using the service. The Pirate Bay THE FCC ORDERS COMCAST to 2008 stop delaying BitTorrent traffic, but COMCAST appeals the decision. In the same year, Barack Obama wins the presidency and advocates for net neutrality. 2010 COMCAST WINS THE APPEAL against the FCC. That same year, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski considers moving broadband service into the telecommunications service class; this would give the FCC clear authority on implementing net neutrality rules. Instead, the FCC issues the three-part Open Internet Order. OPEN INTERNET ORDER 3 Lcan be blocked. TRANSPARENCY NO BLOCKING NO UNREASONABLE No lawful applications, Broadband providers must disclose management practices, performance reviews and terms and conditions of their services. DISCRIMINATION services or websites Providers cannot discriminate when transmitting lawful network traffic. 2011 VERIZON CHALLENGES the Open Internet Order in a Washington, D.C. court. Later, Verizon admits that the rules are what is keeping it from charging websites to reach subscribers. 2012 AT&T STARTS BLOCKING FACETIME in order to promote its own mobile sharing application. A formal complaint is filed with the FCC. 2013 2014 AT&T stops blocking FaceTime. AT&T ANNOUNCES that certain providers can pay to exempt their services from being a part of the data cap that AT&T imposes on its customers. THE OPEN INTERNET ORDER IS PARTIALLY OVERTURNED, so the FCC creates a new proposal that still includes slow and fast lanes online. A bill is later introduced by members of Congress in California and Virginia to stop paid prioritization of providers. AT&T, SPRINT, T-MOBILE AND VERIZON ALL FACE COMPLAINTS from users stating that they are not being transparent and are throttling bandwidth of subscribers. PRESIDENT OBAMA ISSUES A PUBLIC VIDEO in support of net neutrality and FCC authority. FCC CHAIRMAN TOM WHEELER announces plans to have the agency vote on new rules in 2015. PUBLIC SentimeNT The American public is still divided and confused over the issue of net neutrality. Some fear the power of big businesses while others fear the power of the federal government. 61% Percentage of Americans today who oppose FCC-regulated net neutrality 4) 26% Percentage of those in favor of net neutrality 56% 81% Percentage of American voters who say they fear that the FCC would use Internet regulation to promote a Percentage of American public who oppose ISPS using "fast lanes," or charging companies extra political agenda4 for faster download and access speeds() 42% Percentage of Americans who say they are following the net neutrality issue4 PICK A Side Net neutrality today is now both a political issue and a debate among certain businesses. Who's actually duking it out? (6.7) DEMOCRATS vs. RepUbliC ANs MOST DEMOCRATS ARE FOR AN FCC-REGULATED INTERNET that allows for all information to be uncensored and free-flowing. But most Republicans are against these regulations, calling net neutrality a "solution in search of a problem." They don't like the idea of the federal government having control over the Internet and claim it is an encroachment on free market ideals. ISPS vs. THE FCC THE FCC WISHES TO IMPOSE GROUND RULES for all ISPS that will keep them from throttling bandwidth, censoring content and blocking competing services. But the ISPS clearly wish to represent companies based on how well they can pay. WHAT ABOUT buSiness? INTERNET GIANTS LIKE AMAZON, FACEBOOK, GOOGLE and NETFLIX have issued support for strong, reasonable FCC oversight of net neutrality. ) THe GOOD, The Bad AND THe NeutrAL As the FCC has yet to vote on proposed new rules, the agency is asking for public input. Have your voice heard by visiting HTTP://www.FcC.Gov/COMMENTS Before you do that, consider the pros and cons.. 10) PROS OF NET NEUTRALITY CONS NO RESTRICTIONS on content or NET NEUTRALITY could contribute ISPS downloadable programs. charging more for Internet services. 2& ALLOWING THE GOVERNMENT TO NO CHANGE IN 2 V1 DOWNLOAD/UPLOAD transfer rates REGULATE THE INTERNET could lead to less freedom in the business world, making it an even playing field where multimillion-dollar companies don't have ISP endorsement, based on popularity of application. 3 NO CENSORSHIP of content. ISPS MAY LOSE THEIR INCENTIVE to 3 develop programs that improve their services if they are constantly forced to promote other competing programs and services. PROMOTES A FREE MARKET where even 4 startups are on a level playing field with big businesses by giving startups equal visibility. 4 THE FEDERAL GOoVERNMENT could control 5 USERS CAN MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS Internet data using a political agenda. about what sites are trustworthy and useful. SOURCES 1. https://www.aclu.org 2. http://www.thewindowsclub.com 3. http://whatisnetneutrality.org 4. http://www.rasmussenreports.com 5. http://www.udel.edu 6. http://www.arkansasbusiness.com 7. http://www.nationaljournal.com 8. http://internetassociation.org 9. http://www.philforhumanity.com 10. http://www.wral.com INFO GRAPHIC WORLD www.lnfographicWorld.com