Net neutrality is a topic that has been on the minds of my peers and I. As a student hoping to get into the media, net neutrality is a huge concern. I stand to believe that changing the laws of the internet does not mean the apocalypse of the web as we know it, however, it is a step in a risky direction. As far as we can tell the internet is a place where everyone has an equal chance of being heard and creating new ideas. There have been numerous examples of small business coming out of the woodwork and becoming giants. Just look at google in their infancy no one would have imagined that they would grow to a size that would be big enough to become a real competitor to Microsoft. In the 90s everyone knew the only places you would ever be able to have access to new movies was at your local Blockbuster. But the open market of the web allowed a startup like Netflix the resources to overthrow the mighty movie outlet. if the internet was restricted would things be the way they are today? I think we can safely that it would not. This entry will go over some of the issues surrounding the fight against net neutrality. I will do my best to present things as clearly as I see them. as well as show the facts as best as I have the ability to do so.
Cord Cutters
A long long time ago there existed the world where the broadcast waves ruled, where cable companies had complete control of the media you consumed.
“You want to watch your favorite show, well that fine its on our basic service package. Oh wait, your favorite show isn’t on our basic package, well the only way to see it is to pay for our premium pack. oh wait you don’t want to pay, welp guess you can’t watch that show.”
The cable companies banked on the fact that you had fewer resources to get the content you wanted. They could charge high rates and most likely people would pay for it. The Internet is provided by those same companies. Comcast has seen major hits to their overall profit recently with people calling themselves “Cord Cutters.” Groups of people are leaving cable and sticking with the internet. Cable companies are looking to score on this trend, but since the market is free and open and the internet is the same regardless of where you access it. There is no basic or premium internet. Those wise internet providers will now go after the money of content providers. Want your site to be present quickly, maybe even faster than the other guys well it’ll cost ya. Sure sites like Google or Facebook will be able to come up with that money. But where does that leave the rest who can’t pay, left behind maybe to never be heard from again,
Government regulation
Let’s make one thing clear government regulation is not the enemy in this war. Government regulation is the only reason we could have a neutral internet. The FCC, in particular, has the responsibility to manage the communication companies and keep them in line. If the government has the consumer's best interest in mind we should be able to enjoy the internet as we know it today. Unfortunately, the FCC is a place where cable lobbyists run the show. Just look at this entry from the Comcast corporate website this was back in 2011. “Comcast Corporation, one of the world's leading media, entertainment, and communications companies, announced today that Rudy Brioché, Senior Director of External Affairs and Public Policy Counsel, will join the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Advisory Committee for Diversity in the Digital Age. The mission of the Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age is to make recommendations to the FCC regarding policies and practices that will further enhance the ability of minorities and women to participate in telecommunications and related industries.” Comcast gives The committee on diversity millions of dollars every year. But is it really to “enhance the ability of minorities and women to participate in telecommunications and related industries.” or is it to push their own agenda and help butter up lawmakers and put them in their pocket? The Huffington Post tracked the “donations” to the committee. “Over the last several years, the two telecom giants have also contributed millions of dollars to "honor" members of Congress and congressional caucuses. The biggest recipients of this money have been nonprofits linked to minority lawmakers, traditionally some of the most progressive members of Congress. Disclosure of so-called honorary contributions -- ostensibly philanthropic gifts that go to organizations tied to congressional lawmakers or events designed to honor politicians -- became mandatory starting in 2008. In the years since Comcast and Time Warner Cable have directed more than $3.7 million to celebrate lawmakers.” Former FCC chairman James Coltharp (also a former Comcast higher up) in 2011 Spent almost twenty million dollars on lobbying compared to the half million he spent in 1998 when he was in FCC. The changing media landscape is cause for concern in the mind of these High ranking Comcast officials. They and their constituents are paying top dollar to change laws in their favor. Spending millions of dollars now could make them billions in the future. These CEOs will be directly affected by the government ruling on Net neutrality
On the cusp of a ruling on Net neutrality, Obama chose a new head of the FCC. Who did he pick why a telecommunication executive with a history of spending millions in lobbying of course. A man named Thomas Wheeler. Here is a look at this man By John Cassidy of The New Yorker. “That’s a relief—or is it? The closer you look at Wheeler’s selection, the more questionable it appears. After being poorly led for more than a decade—particularly under the disastrous tenure of Michael Powell, son of Colin—a strong argument can be made that the last thing the F.C.C. needs is an industry insider with close ties to many of the companies it oversees. In recent years, the cable and telecom industries have consolidated into a handful of quasi-monopolistic corporations, such as Comcast, Time Warner Cable, A.T. & T., and Verizon, which, all too often, are busy trying to gouge their customers while asking Washington for covert favors. Perhaps what is really wanted is another Elizabeth Warren—a vigorous consumer advocate and proponent of competition who’s willing to stand up to these corporate giants. Even with the best will in the world, it’s hard to see Wheeler as this type of crusading figure.”
The internet has been a giant open landscape of potential ideas. There is really no end to the possibilities for innovation, new technology, and ideas that come from a think tank of limitless minds. The openness of the internet has given us the opportunity to not only be connected but to have instant knowledge at our fingertips. There is no limit, no restrictions, and no hours of operation. If we have a question all we have to do is log on and ask. I feel like this accessibility is a beautiful thing because we as people have been in the pursuit of knowledge all throughout history. The ideas of cable companies to charge and pick which site they deem worthy is destructive. I agree to the fact that it would limit our growth as people and cut of the future inventors, social leaders, and new businesses from becoming a reality. We are living in a world where teens have never been without internet access in their lives. I feel they have a huge advantage. We can not allow our children to go from working in the open world to working in a closed box. So to answer the question, I feel like these internet providers should not create a “pay to play the internet” but should leave it as it is. I think 20 year of the internet Is long enough to see what good this open market internet has done for us. Sites like Kickstarter are perfect examples of how an open internet works. Many new products, music and movies have come from people helping each other over the web. Charities started by children bring thousands of dollars to people in need. The ability to stay connected with family and friends helps bring us closer together. The internet needs to stay the way it is if we as a people hope to evolve to deal with the problems that face us today
I hope that this post was eye-opening
that’s it I have said all I can say.
Behave yourselves kids.
