Blog 16 - Brenden Knuckles

Net New-Reality

Before I begin, let’s take a second and imagine a dystopian future. Big corporations rule over everything we do and say, forcing us to give in to their wants and needs in order for them to flourish. But let’s take it one step further. What if this was a reality? How would society react? What would happen to our normal daily lives? This can only be determined if this dystopia took place.

But what if I said that this dystopia will soon become our reality?

Net Neutrality, in its purest form, is the reason as to why the internet is so widely available and free to conquer by any newfound adventurer. If this “neutrality” were to be taken away, these certain areas to explore are now under a higher power’s command, forcing you to pay a toll in order to explore such area. The ideas behind repealing net neutrality is not a new thing at all. Back in 2016, this sort of scare took place in which the FCC passed legislation to curb ISPs (Internet Service Providers) from controlling how fast their speeds are on different sites. This may lead to believing that this is great for us, but the bad part is what took place after. Major ISPs quickly retaliated, calling out the FCC for its dastardly deeds. Supporters within the ISPs introduced a new legislation known as “The Restoring Internet Freedom Act,” which was far from it’s intentions.

For example, as talk show host John Oliver once put it, “If AT&T doesn’t like Amazon, they can just throttle (or drastically slow speeds on) that site in order to push their personally owned marketplace websites.” Net Neutrality vows to make sure that every website has the same respect and speed as the other. So, the “freedom” they speak of in their legislation is only for the ISPs to choose their favorite sites. Their competitors? Not even close.

What repealing Net Neutrality would do is EXCLUSIVELY benefit CEOs of these ISPs. Nobody else. And in order for these ISPs to get what they want, they implement their own supporters into the FCC to force Net Neutrality to become Net No-More. In fact, the former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler was not against repealing Net Neutrality, saving us all from the corrupt clutches of ISPs… at least for awhile. However, in the months following Trump’s inauguration, he immediately imposed a new chairman into the FCC to stop Net Neutrality in its tracks. This new chairman within the FCC has set his sights on destroying Net Neutrality entirely.

Could a Net New-Reality save the internet? Possibly. Numerous reports of dire circumstances to vocally and physically oppose Net Neutrality in the last 48 hours before the vote show how desperate people can get to keep such legislation alive. Even some members who are a part of the FCC have shown their clear opposition to repealing this legislation. NPR, the New York Times, Wired, and numerous other news sites have reported to show opposition against repeal. Multiple online startup websites like Netflix and Amazon have taken days to encourage their users to oppose repealing Net Neutrality en masse. Yet, none of this can stop the FCC from taking their landmark vote on the matter on December 14th. Even after millions of comments and numerous protests occurred, the vote will still continue.

Our society, at this point in the process of voting to repeal Net Neutrality, has given up on saving the internet. It’s quite clear that, even after the hugely apparent public backlash, we still have no effect on saving what we all hold dear. Who knows? Maybe something will occur, and Net Neutrality can stay for longer. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is investigating this possibly corrupt FCC scheme. What he theorizes is that the comments against Net Neutrality are false, and made by those who work high up at the FCC in order to falsely show support for repealing it. Will this investigation go through and save Net Neutrality? That will be up to what is found.

Net Neutrality is what keeps all of us happy on the internet. Nobody this day in age wants their favorite websites throttled by ISPs. That’s what everyone fears most. A dystopia in our technological age is the loss of freedom with how we use this communication of technology, for big corporations to rule us all. Unless some miracle or legislation takes place to stop the repealing of Net Neutrality, this dystopia could unfortunately take place in our lifetimes. But let us keep our heads high. If the FCC can fully recognize the scale to which these protests are occurring, we may be able to confirm that this dystopia will remain a mere fantasy.