If the FCC Kills Net Neutrality, Here's What Your Internet Could Look Like

[Starfire.]

The new FCC commission, Ajit Pai, formerly worked as a lawyer for Verizon. His plan to eliminate net neutrality is a bigger gift to Verizon than anything he's ever done before.

In just a few weeks, the FCC will vote to eliminate net neutrality. The vote isn't in doubt: with Pai in charge, the anti-neutrality votes have a 3-2 edge. Without net neutrality, Internet service providers will be able to charge web companies for "fast lanes," which they can't do now. Smaller online video or videogame providers could be relegated to the slow lane. The biggest service providers (Netflix, Google, Amazon, and others) may have to cough up extra money, but the consumers won't see any of that–all the benefits will go to the ISPs. Consumers could see their rates go up.

Higher fees for lousier service. Does this sound familiar? That's how cable companies have operated for years.

Not surprisingly, virtually everyone hates this idea except the cable companies themselves. The telecommunications industry, though, is very excited about the prospect of all the money they're going to make. When previous FCC commissioner Tom Wheeler proposed to weaken net neutrality just a couple of years ago, the ensuing public outcry convinced him to reverse himself, resulting in a strong ruling in 2015 preserving neutrality. This week, Wheeler blasted Pai's new rules, saying that "this proposal raises hypocrisy to new heights."

But don't take my word for it. Check out this terrific and entertaining explainer from John Oliver, earlier this year:

Here's the nightmare version of what your Internet service could look like in a few years if Ajit Pai and his telecom buddies get their way â€“ I altered the first line, just to convey the idea; the rest is from a list of Comcast's current cable TV services:

 

That's right: your Internet service provider (ISP) will be allowed to bundle websites just like they bundle television channels. Of course, ISPs claim they will do no such thing, but why should we trust them? Some experts say it's unlikely that they would risk antagonizing consumers, but more likely is a shift toward plans where content providers favored by the ISP are given preferential treatment.

If net neutrality goes away, no longer will anyone be able to set up a website and turn it into a thriving business by offering popular content. They'll first need to raise money to pay the ISPs, or else face being relegated to the slow lane.

No one wants this change except a few large telecom companies. Interviewed by The Nation, former FCC Commissioner Michael Copps said

"There can be no truly open internet without net neutrality. To believe otherwise is to be captive to special interest power brokers or to an old and discredited ideology that thinks monopoly and not government oversight best serves the nation."

Ajit Pai, our new FCC commissioner, clearly belongs to the former. Verizon is now in charge of the FCC.

Steven Salzberg is the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, and Biostatistics at Johns Hopkins University.

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[~CinnamonBuns~]

Time to move to canada if that's my case.

[gore]

:( fuck

[Umji's butt minder]

I'm only on the phone internet anyway.

[Starfire.]

Just a second note for those who don't exactly know what net neutrality is all about: 

 

https://www.savetheinternet.com/net-neutrality-what-you-need-know-now

 

 

Some ways to help: 

 

https://www.battleforthenet.com/

 

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/do-not-repeal-net-neutrality

 

 

Also I beg you guys to please sound professional and try not to have a tantrum if you decide to use these ways to help.

 

 

EDIT: If it gets repealed, here are some ISPs to look into. I don't know if it will help but I felt it was worth a short to add this to the post.

 

https://starry.com/

 

http://www.earthlink.net/

 

http://xmission.com/

[Trixbox]

"Just pay one year subscription of 49.99$ for 12 months access to OneHallyu, the leader in kpop community forums. You can now see and discuss the latest news and trends on your Kpop Idols with other international fans without net neutrality all over the world!!"

[lovery]

i wish immigrating to another country was easy... within the past couple of decades i have been getting more and more signs that i should move to someplace else like canada or greenland maybe but immigration is difficult and esspensive and i don't have any money nor do i have a job that would make me a valuable asset to any other country's society, i don't have any longterm illnesses or anything but even considering that moving away is difficult... and what if i develop something serious tomorrow...? : (

sometimes it just feels like i am stuck and i am screaming for help to get off of this ride but the seatbelt has me tucked in so tightly that i can't make an exit, even when the end of the ride is a literal drop to h*ell... : )

[田馥甄]

I'm trying to see the positives of this from the consumer perspective and I honestly can't see any. I'm glad I live in Canada. 

[Joon]

The president and founder of my ISP said as long as he remains president he will honor net neutrality. I love my ISP!

[YNRA]

The president and founder of my ISP said as long as he remains president he will honor net neutrality. I love my ISP!

and what is your ISP? he is lying, sweetheart 

[Joon]

and what is your ISP? he is lying, sweetheart

 

XMission....it’s a small local ISP on the UTOPIA fiber network.

 

https://xmission.com/blog/2014/01/22/net-neutrality

 

It’s an older article but his stance has remained the same.

 

This is one thing I love about where I live, there are so many ISPs to choose from and most are small and local.

[YNRA]

XMission....it’s a small local ISP on the UTOPIA fiber network.

 

https://xmission.com/blog/2014/01/22/net-neutrality

even comcast said they dont "support" the overturning of net neutrality but i would honestly not believe any U.S. internet provider if they say they support it. the truth is, they just want people to switch from verizon to them

 

the internet is controlled only by like 4 companies in the U.S. and theyre all snakes 

[Joon]

even comcast said they dont "support" the overturning of net neutrality but i would honestly not believe any U.S. internet provider if they say they support it. the truth is, they just want people to switch from verizon to them

 

the internet is controlled only by like 4 companies in the U.S. and theyre all snakes

 

XMission is an independent ISP though. They have also done more than just lip service as far as standing up for net neutrality.

 

I just hope they can stan by their word. They are very small fish after all...

 

We will see.