By Sanjay Achar '17

Net Neutrality is the principle that people have the right to communicate freely online, or that there is an open Internet. It lends that the Internet enables and protects free speech and should not discriminate against any applications or content that ride over those networks. In other words, your ISP should not be concerned with the content you view or post online.  A parallel example is your phone company not being able to decide who you can call or what you can say on your call. Without Net Neutrality, cable and phone companies could set up fast and slow lanes in the Internet, where the ISP could slow down its competitors’ content, block political opinions it disagreed with or charge extra fees to the companies that could pay for preferential treatment and leave everyone else with a slower service.

In May 2014, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler released a plan that allowed for discrimination online to create pay-to-play fast lanes. In a series of politically motivated decisions, the FCC decided to classify broadband internet access service as an information service, meaning that the law sees it as no different than a website, rather than as having access to networks and thus tremendous gatekeeping power. These decisions removed the FCC’s ability to prohibit ISPs from blocking or discriminating against online content. In Verizon vs. FCC, the court stated that the FCC lacks authority because of the Commission’s still-binding decision to classify broadband providers not as providers of telecommunications services, but instead as providers of information services. Due to a huge public outcry, this proposal was taken back in February and strong protections were put in place. On February 26^th of this year, the FCC voted to define broadband as a connection to the outside world that is faster than the phone lines used for dial-up access, phone calls and faxes. This gave the FCC the strongest foundation for rules prohibiting discrimination. Net Neutrality is crucial for small business owners and entrepreneurs to be on a level playing field when using the Internet, as well as for consumers of the Internet. However, there is still strong opposition and ten lawsuits designed to take away Net Neutrality have already been filed since February.

As the Internet does not know borders, this debate has been pervasive across the world, especially with American companies overseas. For example, as of August 2015, there were no laws governing Net Neutrality in India and thus, there have already been a number of violations by Indian service providers. The debate gained public attention in India after Airtel, a mobile telephone service provider in India announced additional charges for making voice calls from its network using apps like WhatsApp and Skype, in December 2014. Facebook recently faced backlash in India after its Internet.org was criticized as a blatant attempt to colonize the mobile Internet. Net Neutrality can be a double-edged sword for Internet companies. For example, in India, a group of companies withdrew from Internet.org in protest over zero-rating, under which services like Facebook on mobile did not count against a user’s data plan. Facebook has hired former chairman of the FCC, Kevin Martin, to help deal with the issue. Zuckerberg argues that giving people some free access to the Internet is better than none to create a more connected world. As these examples show, Net Neutrality displays a large concern to small businesses and consumers all around the world.

Sources:

http://blogs.ft.com/tech-blog/2015/05/facebook-hires-a-net-neutrality-moderate/http://www.savetheinternet.com/net-neutrality-what-you-need-know-nowhttp://indianexpress.com/article/technology/social/net-neutrality-debate-its-not-just-limited-to-airtel-zero/http://www.financialexpress.com/article/industry/tech/for-skype-airtel-will-charge-rs-75-for-75mb-postpaid-packs-soon/23571/Photos:http://nbtimes.it/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/net-neutrality-1-620x400.jpghttp://www.pollackmedia.com/pollack-report-the-fcc-votes-for-net-neutrality/