Post by robeiae on Feb 22, 2019 10:24:25 GMT -5
Here's an article at CNet from December of last year on Net Neutrality that kind of explains the "battle": www.cnet.com/news/the-net-neutrality-fight-isnt-over-heres-what-you-need-to-know/
It spends a lot of time explaining policy and the efforts to get net neutrality back, but doesn't really have too much in the way of explaining the actual consequences of not having net neutrality. Really, all it has is this:
Net Neutrality was always--imo--about fear; it was predicated on assumptions about an unknown future and on assumptions about market behavior grounded in that fear. So far, those assumptions have not been proven true in the least which suggests to me that the people crafting and supporting net neutrality don't have a really firm grasp on how economies work. Their viewpoint is forever couched in the idea that consumers are powerless in the face of market forces, which I think is simply dead wrong.
It spends a lot of time explaining policy and the efforts to get net neutrality back, but doesn't really have too much in the way of explaining the actual consequences of not having net neutrality. Really, all it has is this:
The repeal of the FCC's net neutrality rules was a big change in policy. But for most people, things haven't really changed.
Over time, though, they could. Whether you think the changes will be for better or worse depends on whom you believe.
Pai and many Republicans say freeing up broadband providers from onerous and outdated regulation will let them invest more in their networks. Pai pointed to an October report by USTelecom, a broadband trade group, that showed broadband spending increased by $1.5 billion from 2016 to 2017.
Net neutrality supporters argue that the FCC's financial analysis is wrong. Democrats like Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, consumer advocacy groups, civil rights organizations and technology companies like Google and Mozilla say that repealing the 2015 rules and stripping the FCC of its authority will lead to broadband companies controlling more of your internet experience.
This may lead to higher prices. Groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union also say it could affect your First Amendment right to free speech as big companies control more of what you see online.
"Internet rights are civil rights," said Jay Stanley, an ACLU senior policy analyst. "Gutting net neutrality will have a devastating effect on free speech online. Without it, gateway corporations like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T will have too much power to mess with the free flow of information."
Over time, though, they could. Whether you think the changes will be for better or worse depends on whom you believe.
Pai and many Republicans say freeing up broadband providers from onerous and outdated regulation will let them invest more in their networks. Pai pointed to an October report by USTelecom, a broadband trade group, that showed broadband spending increased by $1.5 billion from 2016 to 2017.
Net neutrality supporters argue that the FCC's financial analysis is wrong. Democrats like Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, consumer advocacy groups, civil rights organizations and technology companies like Google and Mozilla say that repealing the 2015 rules and stripping the FCC of its authority will lead to broadband companies controlling more of your internet experience.
This may lead to higher prices. Groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union also say it could affect your First Amendment right to free speech as big companies control more of what you see online.
"Internet rights are civil rights," said Jay Stanley, an ACLU senior policy analyst. "Gutting net neutrality will have a devastating effect on free speech online. Without it, gateway corporations like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T will have too much power to mess with the free flow of information."
Net Neutrality was always--imo--about fear; it was predicated on assumptions about an unknown future and on assumptions about market behavior grounded in that fear. So far, those assumptions have not been proven true in the least which suggests to me that the people crafting and supporting net neutrality don't have a really firm grasp on how economies work. Their viewpoint is forever couched in the idea that consumers are powerless in the face of market forces, which I think is simply dead wrong.