The support for net neutrality in our country has become a very large component of an expanding fight in order to keep an open and free internet for all users. For those of you who are unfamiliar with net neutrality, it has been the basic framework of our internet connection for many years and has never faced any serious issues with corporate companies (like Comcast and Time Warner) in the past. But recently, cable companies are pushing to have two separate lanes of internet connection for consumers: a fast connection for those who pay more and a slow one for those who pay less. Right now, though, we only have one lane for all internet traffic that is the same speed for everyone with no buy-ins and faster connections for wealthier clients.
This has been an ongoing fight with consumers and cable companies and it has just begun. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) opened up a comments section on their website in order for citizens of the United States to speak on what they believe is the right decision for the future of the internet. The comments, which rounded off at about 4 million in total, where overwhelmingly on the side of keeping net neutrality. About 99% of the comments were against giving cable companies the power to create separate lanes and organize the internet in a fashion they feel appropriate while 1% were in favor of giving that power to cable companies. Protests across the country emerged for this cause and many, many more Americans are starting to realize the true devastation this may have on their abilities toward internet freedom.
President Obama has issued a statement in that he fully support net neutrality and does not want to see it changed. In a written statement to the FCC, Obama said to "create a new set of rules protecting net neutrality" and to ensure that phone and cable companies will not be able to "act as a gatekeeper, restricting what you can do or see online," according to USA Today. The Obama-appointed chairman of the FCC Tom Wheeler, said that he also opposes fast lanes for higher-paying customers and wants the internet to be a free platform for all who use it.
Speaking of Tom Wheeler, he used to be a lobbyist for the cable and wireless industry - which seems like a conflict of interests, if I'm not mistaken - and that only furthers the problem of what could be of our internet within the coming months and years after the final decision is made by the FCC. Unfortunately, the FCC is an independent agency and has the ability to decide what the end outcome will be regardless of protests, The President's statement and anyone else who tries to stop them (ironic, isn't it?).
What, though, would be the tragedy of having two separate lanes of internet access, one might ask? Well, say you're browsing the web and stumble upon a new website you've never been to before. This website could be anything - online grocery shopping, a online store for clothes or even your friend's blog that you wanted to check out - but the catch is, you may have to pay extra just to visit that website. If it's not a website that you've visited before or don't frequently visit, you may face the consequence of paying a couple extra dollars just for access to this site. What kind of ridiculous world would we live in if we attempt to fix a system that is not broken? Paying extra for something we have now for free is easily the wrong decision if it means putting more money in the pockets of lobbyists and cable companies looking to squeeze you dry of more money at every turn.
Our foundation of freedom is based on the notion that our government is to work for the well-being of the people, not massive corporations. If net neutrality is compromised, we will fully understand what the government's intentions are regarding corporations. They will have made it clear that corporations have complete control the government and obviously do not work for the average U.S. citizen. It's unfortunate but it is true in many ways.
If you want to help support net neutrality, send letters, tweet, make phone calls and protest the FCC in any way you possibly can. If you think that your own actions will not make a difference, think again. If one person can keep constantly trying to reform the FCC's decision, that means there can be thousands, even millions of others who feel the same exact way, trying to make concrete changes to what may become a disaster if we don't stand up now.
This has been an ongoing fight with consumers and cable companies and it has just begun. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) opened up a comments section on their website in order for citizens of the United States to speak on what they believe is the right decision for the future of the internet. The comments, which rounded off at about 4 million in total, where overwhelmingly on the side of keeping net neutrality. About 99% of the comments were against giving cable companies the power to create separate lanes and organize the internet in a fashion they feel appropriate while 1% were in favor of giving that power to cable companies. Protests across the country emerged for this cause and many, many more Americans are starting to realize the true devastation this may have on their abilities toward internet freedom.
President Obama has issued a statement in that he fully support net neutrality and does not want to see it changed. In a written statement to the FCC, Obama said to "create a new set of rules protecting net neutrality" and to ensure that phone and cable companies will not be able to "act as a gatekeeper, restricting what you can do or see online," according to USA Today. The Obama-appointed chairman of the FCC Tom Wheeler, said that he also opposes fast lanes for higher-paying customers and wants the internet to be a free platform for all who use it.
Speaking of Tom Wheeler, he used to be a lobbyist for the cable and wireless industry - which seems like a conflict of interests, if I'm not mistaken - and that only furthers the problem of what could be of our internet within the coming months and years after the final decision is made by the FCC. Unfortunately, the FCC is an independent agency and has the ability to decide what the end outcome will be regardless of protests, The President's statement and anyone else who tries to stop them (ironic, isn't it?).
What, though, would be the tragedy of having two separate lanes of internet access, one might ask? Well, say you're browsing the web and stumble upon a new website you've never been to before. This website could be anything - online grocery shopping, a online store for clothes or even your friend's blog that you wanted to check out - but the catch is, you may have to pay extra just to visit that website. If it's not a website that you've visited before or don't frequently visit, you may face the consequence of paying a couple extra dollars just for access to this site. What kind of ridiculous world would we live in if we attempt to fix a system that is not broken? Paying extra for something we have now for free is easily the wrong decision if it means putting more money in the pockets of lobbyists and cable companies looking to squeeze you dry of more money at every turn.
Our foundation of freedom is based on the notion that our government is to work for the well-being of the people, not massive corporations. If net neutrality is compromised, we will fully understand what the government's intentions are regarding corporations. They will have made it clear that corporations have complete control the government and obviously do not work for the average U.S. citizen. It's unfortunate but it is true in many ways.
If you want to help support net neutrality, send letters, tweet, make phone calls and protest the FCC in any way you possibly can. If you think that your own actions will not make a difference, think again. If one person can keep constantly trying to reform the FCC's decision, that means there can be thousands, even millions of others who feel the same exact way, trying to make concrete changes to what may become a disaster if we don't stand up now.