Why you should support net neutrality

Amid the raucous political debate, there is a critical issue many are overlooking: the threat to net neutrality. First, let me clearly define what I mean by net neutrality.

When we use the Internet, we have the expectation we can access any content freely whenever, however we want. In short, we expect our Internet traffic to be treated with neutrality. This basic principle protects our rights to equal access to all legal content and applications on the Internet. In the same way we all have equal access to basic utilities like water and electricity, the current rules prohibit Internet service providers from charging content providers more money for faster lanes or slowing down access to companies or content that are not able or willing to pay higher fees.

This environment has been key to the creation of many of the Internet services that consumers enjoy.

In 2015, former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler pushed through regulations to protect these guiding principles. These rules are precisely what the new FCC chairman is in the process of undoing.

First, the commission undid privacy regulations preventing service providers from selling information about your Internet use to advertisers; now it has moved on to eliminate net neutrality. The FCC argues net neutrality hurts innovation and infrastructure investment; many service providers have already proved this theory false. They have continued to invest despite the current net neutrality requirement.

Net neutrality is a critical component of the future of the Internet, but the real issue is the lack of fast, affordable Internet in America — directly caused by a lack of adequate competition. If consumers had more providers to choose from, the market would solve the issues of privacy protections, network neutrality and much more. People would not stand for poor privacy practices and content restrictions, usurious prices and poor quality. They would seek other options, forcing providers to change their practices. Read More