3-2 FCC Vote on New Proposal for Net Neutrality
On Thursday, May 15, the FCC voted 3-2 on pursuing a new proposal regarding Internet traffic. As a brief reminder, net neutrality is the idea that Internet traffic is fair game for all companies. This means that top companies don’t have an advantage over smaller companies in regards to Internet speed. Additionally, the bigger companies can’t control what data loads faster and what loads slower in their favor.
New regulations have the potential to change all of that, depending on how the FCC scripts its final rules. Instead of equal Internet speed for all customers, companies could compete and outrank each other by purchasing faster Internet speeds, which in turn would increase the amount of money customers are being charged. However, even if the customers pay for faster Internet, it doesn’t mean that all of the websites they visit will load at the same, fast speed. Depending on the company, preference may be given to certain websites which will affect loading time.
Another issue is that if big companies can pay for the best Internet speeds, where does that leave startups? Startup companies will have difficulty keeping up financially with the bigger, established companies and may never be able to. As reported by Mashable, net neutrality advocates are worried that the new proposal will create an “Internet of slow and fast lanes”.
Thursday’s vote hasn’t solidified any rules yet, and lines are open for the next 120 days for people to share their beliefs and comments on the situation.
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