Net Neutrality Blog Stage #7
Net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites. As of right now, the principle is at high risk, as FCC chairman Ajit Pai has pushed for net neutrality to be destroyed. Without net neutrality, corporations will be able to slow down their services and charge fees for accessing certain websites, like YouTube or even Google. There could be data caps for at-home wifi, much like the data caps seen in cell phone data plans. Our ISPs will be able to control what we access and view online without net neutrality. To preserve net neutrality, citizens of the United States must take action against the FCC and government, as they have done many times before.
This may sound familiar right? Just a few years ago, there was a battle for the same net neutrality in which users and companies across the internet took huge steps of action. At least 76 different websites, organized by many left leaning blogs and unions, participated in "Internet Slowdown Day" on September 10, 2014. On this date, these sites displayed a loading symbol and a call to action to push comments to the FCC and white house. After this, the FCC voted to adopt strong net neutrality rules protecting internet users based on the Title II communications act. However, this battle his happening once again, triggered by the recent advancement of legislation to remove net neutrality. On July 12th, 2017, websites across the internet once again participated in an internet slowdown vote to protect the users' right to free, unlimited internet.
However, supporters of net neutrality may be wasting their time pushing comments to the FCC, as the chairman has even stated that public outcry will not change his mind on the matter of net neutrality. Other than suggesting that complaining to the FCC is futile, it also displays how corrupt and unwilling the FCC has become.
Preserving net neutrality isn't just a battle for untapped use of the internet, but it is a battle for the autonomy and freedom of America. Without net neutrality, ISPs will be able to suppress and block certain messages or websites. This is a clear violation of the first amendment. The battle for net neutrality is a battle for cultural and social minorities looking to convey messages of social justice, or small startup business looking to push their innovation out to the world. A country where the internet is controlled by ISPs is a country where opinions and innovation are instantly suppressed. This is why the American population must take action.
We have done it many times before and we can do it again. Not only have we championed for net neutrality back in 2014, but we have also successfully protested against the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and PROTECT IP Act (PIPA).
This may sound familiar right? Just a few years ago, there was a battle for the same net neutrality in which users and companies across the internet took huge steps of action. At least 76 different websites, organized by many left leaning blogs and unions, participated in "Internet Slowdown Day" on September 10, 2014. On this date, these sites displayed a loading symbol and a call to action to push comments to the FCC and white house. After this, the FCC voted to adopt strong net neutrality rules protecting internet users based on the Title II communications act. However, this battle his happening once again, triggered by the recent advancement of legislation to remove net neutrality. On July 12th, 2017, websites across the internet once again participated in an internet slowdown vote to protect the users' right to free, unlimited internet.
However, supporters of net neutrality may be wasting their time pushing comments to the FCC, as the chairman has even stated that public outcry will not change his mind on the matter of net neutrality. Other than suggesting that complaining to the FCC is futile, it also displays how corrupt and unwilling the FCC has become.
Preserving net neutrality isn't just a battle for untapped use of the internet, but it is a battle for the autonomy and freedom of America. Without net neutrality, ISPs will be able to suppress and block certain messages or websites. This is a clear violation of the first amendment. The battle for net neutrality is a battle for cultural and social minorities looking to convey messages of social justice, or small startup business looking to push their innovation out to the world. A country where the internet is controlled by ISPs is a country where opinions and innovation are instantly suppressed. This is why the American population must take action.
We have done it many times before and we can do it again. Not only have we championed for net neutrality back in 2014, but we have also successfully protested against the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and PROTECT IP Act (PIPA).
I agree strongly with Alex's opinions on net neutrality. It is a topic that I have paid attention to for a while now and one I believe will impact millions of people's lives. If the FCC is successful in removing net neutrality, it is very likely that other countries will follow suit, eliminating any chance of nonrestricted internet.
ReplyDeleteAlex does a good job of explaining the issue at hand by being very precise with things like dates, acts, website names and the name of the FCC chairman. It makes the article feel more credible because of how well informed the author is.
Another thing that Alex does well in this article is the ending. By using the word "we," he includes the reader in the fight for net neutrality and makes them apart of the cause. It inspires the reader to fight for net neutrality.