Why you should care that the ‘Open Internet’ is coming to an end. People call it different things, depending on what side they’re on.
“Net neutrality” sets out principles for regulators to treat all companies using the internet equally. Consumer advocates call that an “open internet.” The Trump administration calls it “micromanaging.” On Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai circulated a plan to repeal Obama-era net neutrality rules in an attempt to “restore freedom.”
Pai argues ending net neutrality or the “open internet” will promote competition. The Obama-era FCC, he said in a statement, “imposed heavy-handed, utility-style regulations upon the Internet.” Instead, the FCC would simply require Internet service providers to be transparent about their practices so that consumers can buy the service plan that’s best for them,” Pai added.
Verizon welcomed the FCC’s stance. “We’re very encouraged by Chairman Pai’s announcement today that the FCC will move forward next month to restore the successful light-touch regulatory framework for Internet services,” it said. But Google, the world’s most popular search engine, said in a statement, “We’re disappointed in the proposal released today.”
Consumers also have a lot at stake. Repealing net neutrality rules would give internet service providers more power over what sites we visit and make it more difficult for new companies to grow, said Jonathan Schwantes, senior policy counsel for Consumers Union, a New York-based nonprofit. It would lead to consumers being strong-armed into paying higher prices for higher speeds, he said.
A two-tiered internet where some websites could be left with slower access
The FCC originally approved “open internet” net neutrality rules in 2015. In April, the newly-confirmed FCC chairman Pai released a preliminary plan backed by internet service providers to undo the rules. That would allow cable companies and content providers to make deals to provide faster access to some websites and content, meaning other websites would have slower access.
This, critics argue, would pave the way for cable companies to give some broadcast companies and video streaming services preferential treatment. The 2010 Federal Communications Act forced companies like Comcast and Verizon Communications to treat all video streaming equally. The five-member commission is due to vote on undoing the rules on Dec. 14.
What we watch online could eventually be controlled by a small group of big corporations, said Aram Sinnreich, professor of communications at the American University, Washington, D.C. “The FCC not going to hold these companies to those standards,” he said. “The real power of the wireless market will be unleashed with the 5G marketplace and digital companies want to dominate that.”
The FCC old rules were designed to make it easy for the Facebooks, Netflixes and YouTubes of tomorrow to succeed — or get a fair chance — without being penalized by cable companies and broadband providers with slower speeds. Advocates of net neutrality say new players won’t get a proper start if they can’t harness the full power of the Internet.
Online content could be controlled by a few ‘mega companies’
In the past, there were no preferential conditions for legacy cable companies. “The entire regulatory approach to the internet and digital services is changing,” Sinnreich said. “We are seeing a move back towards allowing communications and viewing to be controlled by just a few mega companies.” Without competition and innovation, consumers will have fewer choices of faster content, he said.
If net neutrality ended, cable companies would be able to charge Netflix, Hulu and YouTube to prioritize their services. Netflix works with ISPs to secure faster streaming and has a monthly “Netflix ISP Speed Index,” meaning that Netflix plays at different speeds on different providers. Currently, Comcast is No. 1, followed by Cox, Spectrum, Verizon-FIOS and Optimum AT&T-U-verse.
The majority (57%) of Americans support net neutrality rules to prevent internet service providers from blocking or discriminating against lawful content on the internet, a recent Consumer Reports survey found. Some 16% opposed them and 27% had no opinion. And 67% did not agree that ISPs should be able to choose which websites, apps or streaming services customers can access.
Still, streaming places a burden on the network, which needs to be recouped, said William Rinehart, director of technology and innovation policy at the American Action Forum, a center-right policy institute. “Although the text of the order hasn’t dropped yet, this proceeding offers a reset.” Consumers, he said, could download a movie at a faster speed for a higher price.
Schwantes sees the FCC’s proposed rules as good for cable operators, but bad for Joe Public. “If the FCC approves this proposal,” he said, “it would be an enormous loss for consumers.”