Not many people around the world are particularly aware of what net neutrality is and how it affects our internet usage. The broad definition is that all internet traffic is to be treated equally and no addition costs should be given to users, platforms or websites for any given reason. Net neutrality is like the constitution of the internet cyberspace and allows each user rights to visit any website he or she wishes free of charge. Of course websites like Netflix, The New York times and many others charge users for more content, but if net neutrality is compromised big corporate giants like Comcast and Time Warner can intervene. FCC chairman Tom Wheeler has proposed plans to allow for corporations to have control over internet trafficking and essentially obliterate any small businesses trying to compete. Net neutrality has been such a controversial topic that the comments section that the FCC allowed for citizens to speak their voice has a record-breaking 3.7 million comments. The majority (more than 90%) of the comments oppose Wheeler's plans to monopolize the internet and create two lanes of traffic. One lane would be slow and the second would be much faster, of course costing more money for the consumer. In September popular websites like Reddit, Netflix and Tumblr slowed down their connections in order to demonstrate what may happen if companies like Comcast, AT&T and Time Warner charge consumers more for faster internet. The Senate Judiciary Committee debated whether should expand it's Title II authority to impose net neutrality rules. "It's doubtful that creating an expansive regulatory regime will increase broadband deployment, spur innovation or ensure better quality services and consumer satisfaction," said Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa. “Nonetheless, there are legitimate concerns about making sure Internet competition and consumers are protected from corporate bad actors.”
Netflix is the first big streaming company to publicly oppose Comcast's $45 billion merger with Time Warner cable according to the New York Times. The merger would come down upon small business competition with such a force that starting a new business online would be nearly impossible with all the fees of new net neutrality rules. What kind of internet are we promoting if we allow such corporations to have this much control? The whole idea of net neutrality is so people can browse websites, create their own blogs (like the one you're reading now), and do as they please without the threat of being charged unnecessary fees for their internet use. The unfortunate truth about this whole situation is that the mainstream media barley covers this topic so citizens are uninformed about what may become of their internet access. Pretty soon, Comcast will become such a huge proponent for internet use, it may become the one and only internet provider for the entire country and it can charge fees, create fast lanes and allow better connection for customers that simply pay more money for it. That alone could put out small businesses already in operation because they would not be able to afford new fees that could cost them much more for what they're getting right now for free. Netflix has complained in the past about Comcast's ability to make connections faster or slower out of thin air if fees are not payed to keep streaming on high-speeds. Netflix filed a petition against to the FCC because Comcast provided some of the slowest speeds to their customers using Netflix because Netflix was not paying to connect directly to the network. When Netflix, reluctantly of course, decided to pay Comcast these ridiculous fees, the speeds magically went the fastest they ever have before. Some of the customers got so upset with the difficulties they were having that they started to unsubscribe from Netflix, therefore costing the company major problems. "For many subscribers, the bit rate was so poor that Netflix's streaming video service became unusable," the company said. "Some of them canceled their Netflix subscription on the spot, citing the unacceptable quality of Netflix's video streams and Netflix's inability to do anything to change the situation," according to CNN money. This is exactly the kind of unfairness smaller businesses, like Netflix, Reddit or other online sites, have to face if they do not come through with the money to pay off fees.