Net Neutrality Possible Regulation Changes in the U.S. -- could it effect you?

[LindseyLeeMiller]

Hi everyone!
My name is Lindsey and I've been relatively new to the forums but I've decided to make my first topic around a very serious issue that could not just effect places on the internet that you currently frequent now but the importance of competitors that could emerge in the future to improve the quality of the products you currently use better (Including but not limited to Youtube, Netflix, Facebook, Line Webtoons (Naver), Patreon, even possibly Taptastic). This could also in large ways effect current up and coming companies and future companies that could try to provide different entertainment or communication servies to you and their ability to either thrive or die against larger competition.

Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to bring any politics into this, this is a very simple cut and dry issue that effects everyone across the internet seeing as many companies (regardless of your country) originate from the United States in regards to services and your future interactions with the internet may be largely effected by this.

A brief synopsis (albiet since obviously Im writing it, its obviously from my point of view):
The U.S. Government and the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) are currently in the process of reviewing regulations that were passed under the Obama presidential administration and revert them back to a previous regulation status.
Someone who much better explains it is John Oliver from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Not hiding my opinion -- Basically I agree with John Oliver and believe that Internet regulations in America should remain under Title 2 regulations, allowing the internet in America to be considered a utility (similiar to gas, electric, and water). Now if you don't live in America or your not American this could also effect you in that a large userbase of many of these companies are in fact American.
The FCC allows comments from people living outside the United States or do not carry American citizenship.
So if you agree with keeping the internet ISP regulations in America a Title 2 class Utility (similar to Gas, Electric, and Water) please take the time to file your own comment as well.
www.gofccyourself.com

I'd also be interested in what everyone thinks of this because who knows what it could and could not mean for the internet in the future.

[AoDLegacy]

I fully admit to having submitted a comment already, the guy is seriously funny but tackles these issues respectably enough. I appreciate this discussion as I think that we really should be hitting this issue upside the head before it can cause the internet real harm.

[BluezArt]

I was just thinking about bringing this up on here today lol but yeah this is a serious issue that needs to be brought up more cuz not many people actually know what net neutrality & privacy is and how to take action ( I brought the topic up with my mom the other day and I got a blank stare lmao) which I think is why we keep seeing these attempts to get rid of it every couple of years :/

[Kura]

I can't see the video to see what you are talking about because my country is blocked x.x

[hushicho]

Also add yourself to http://battleforthenet.com if you're invested in this...and you should be. We need to make sure to oppose any such action.

[Devika]

I was about to submit a comment, but having my full name and address out there feels really, really icky.

[yondoloki]

I agree it feels like it goes against what we are all taught about not giving up personal information on the internet, but I think the risk is worth it in this case.
If we keep silent in this regard it will not only hurt the US but all of us. If they get this through, there will be presedence for it, and the rest of the world will have an easier time getting similar regulations through.

[Devika]

Yeah, absolutely. And now that for once foreigners can join in too...

It would have been much less of an issue to me if only the fcc had gotten the information and only published "censored" versions...

[Redsheis]

I have been freaking out about this issue for a while now. In the beginning it was mainly for the internet to be seen as a utility I live in the states and Net Neutrality has been fighting for some time now and only came in the center fold when the president is strongly opposing Net Neutrality and wants to censor the internet ? I don't think he understands the internet that much to know that censoring it is a really bad idea.

I have been living in apartments for 5 years now and every one I gone to has comcast as their main provider and I can't switch to a different provider because The appartment signed a contract with comcast witch states that no other provider in their complex can update their services in the area as long as the contract stans. Thus destroying the competition and creating a monopoly in the apartment complexes. I do remember in Alabama when Google fiber wire was going to be put in the city but then comcast bought out the area so that wouldn't happen. So we are stuck with shity slow internet then the rest of the world.

We are in an interesting situation right now. If Net Neutrality loses its easier for companies and lobbyist to push their agendas whether it be good or bad in the censored internet media around the world. but a new service provider might step up and offer an uncensored serves or something which would cause the other serves providers to change or slowly die. If Net Neutrality wins than America will have higher speed internet the likes of which I have never seen befor and it will be classified as a utility like gas electric and water, and will stay to be the untamed internet that we all know. Because it would be classified as a utility it has to follow strict regulations so companies like comcast will have a hard time finding loop holes and getting away with holding apartment complexes hostage to their services. truthfully I really don't think the president/officials understands what he is doing most people in office don't fully understand the internet and the impact it has on our future. Personally I am a bit fed up right now because of their 2 party political system, I had to pay $800 in taxes because I didn't have insurance for two months last year. I was PUNISHED FOR NOT HAVING HEALTH INSURANCE. Which is unconstitutional ( but that 's a whole nother topic on the health care system .. its all #@$%@ up)

[BluezArt]

this
i believe this is a " knowledge is power" and "whoever has the gold makes the rules" sort of thing, ya? The gov. officials might not know what kind of fire they're playing with but honestly? i think they do. The only surefire way to make sure that the gov. stays in its place is if the people wake up and get educated & most importantly actually take action and stay with it. This issue isn't ever going to stop coming up until the people stop; and if/when that happens we'll no longer have the ability fight back.

[Shanny8]

truthfully I really don't think the president/officials understands what he is doing

He FULLY understands what he is doing- and the implications. He just doesnt give a damn, as long as his pockets are being filled with money- at others' expense.

[solhawthorne]

Oof. There's a lot going on in this thread.

Short answer in my understanding: No. Loss of net neutrality will not have as big of an impact as people believe depending on where you live.

In the states, the consumer might see slower speeds and maybe higher rates, but it's actually the companies providing the content that get hit. Netflix, Google, and Amazon have the most to lose. That where this idea of "censorship" stems from. The idea is that ISPs could basically pick and choose winners in the internet game by charging prices for various content. It's massively overhyped. For one, the government has absolutely nothing to do with the censorship idea, privacy is not an issue here, and municipal monopolies will not be affected at all by net neutrality or lack thereof. Your speed will not increase and your rates will not decrease due to net neutrality.

That being said, it's generally a good idea. Telecommunications has become a necessity for life just like electricity and water so it should be classified under law as a utility.

One last thing, @Redsheis the tax on lack of health insurance is 100% constitutional. Congress (and States) can make any tax they want. It's a common misunderstanding that taxes must have a "purpose" or that its legality is tied to that purpose. It's not. Another example: social security. It's not a pension fund, it's a tax, plain and simple, and it can go away the moment Congress feels like it. AFAIK, the only tax that's unconstitutional is a poll tax.

[LindseyLeeMiller]

Oof. There's a lot going on in this thread.

Short answer in my understanding: No. Loss of net neutrality will not have as big of an impact as people believe depending on where you live.

In the states, the consumer might see slower speeds and maybe higher rates, but it's actually the companies providing the content that get hit. Netflix, Google, and Amazon have the most to lose. That where this idea of "censorship" stems from. The idea is that ISPs could basically pick and choose winners in the internet game by charging prices for various content. It's massively overhyped. For one, the government has absolutely nothing to do with the censorship idea, privacy is not an issue here, and municipal monopolies will not be affected at all by net neutrality or lack thereof. Your speed will not increase and your rates will not decrease due to net neutrality.

I don't really think censorship or privacy is the issue here thats a whole other news story regarding congress allowing ISPs to sell your personal browsing data to whomever they wish. Or prices, Net Neutrality won't effect the monopolies, horrible service, and lack of competition to push infrastructure development within the United States. With Net Neutrality the issue here is that pulling Title 2 regulations off of the Internet will result with even more monopolies. Now I'm not going to argue with the fact that under any administration since the internet was created and became a household name the monopolies of silicon valley or the internet telecommunications providers have ever been reigned in. Those monopolies have been left to thrive across the country. Although on the same token, changing the Net Neutrality regulations to what they were before would only work to further more monopolies and balloon the ones that we already joke about taking over the world. Censorship can come into play at this point -- that most Telecommunication companies already own huge Television outlets and websites, and could be used to pressure mergers, influence content, and knock out any and all competitors that don't mesh with their image across any platforms they may be operating on. And while big companies will have the most to lose in this deal I doubt that they would not be willing to pass that onto their consumers in the long run.