Current Events > I do not understand what Net Neutrality is

(+) Yeah! (+)

Can someone please explain it to me? So is it officially not a thing anymore and there is no way it is coming back? What does this really mean to me or anyone for that matter?

Everyone keep saying that it is a very bad thing that we no longer have it, but I don't understand what it is.
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net neutrality was the way you've always used the internet

removing the rules means things are going to change

From what I understand, certain companies can now charge us for additional "services" (websites) on top of the fee we're already paying for monthly internet.

Basicaly you'll pay more for less....and slower.
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Think of it like a buffet. You pay a fee to access the food. Right now, it's all-you-can-eat for that set fee. But without net neutrality rules, the restaurant can start charging for certain sections of the buffet on top of the buffet fee. Want some fried chicken? Gotta buy the "Chicken Access" package. Want some cake? Gotta buy the "Dessert Access" package. Etc., etc.

Basically, without net neutrality, ISP companies can start charging you based on what content you want in addition to the 'all-access' set fee.

Basically, before, an ISP had to look at your car on the road and treat it the same as any other car on the road

now your ISP can look at your car on the road and give preference to cars that aren't your car or the color of your car or because fuck you that's why
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All these issues can be solved with a vpn though
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It's not even just about how the ISP interacts with the customer - the ISP can also use this as leverage against streaming media sites like Amazon and Netflix.
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So why was net neutrality appealed then? What possible benefit is there to it beyond government officials being paid off by companies that stand to profit from this? May have answered my own question there.

So when does this all go in to effect?
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What possible benefit is there to it beyond government officials being paid off by companies that stand to profit from this?
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TommyG663513 posted...

So why was net neutrality appealed then?

Bribery of people who are supposed to act in our best interests.

TommyG663513 posted...

What possible benefit is there to it beyond government officials being paid off by companies that stand to profit from this?

There isn't any.
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TommyG663513 posted...

government officials being paid off by companies

Ted Cruz even got a $40k contribution from Comcast and he tweeted some dumb shit about it
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Hexenherz posted...

What possible benefit is there to it beyond government officials being paid off by companies that stand to profit from this?

There isn't any. It's all greed.

Counter arguments are usually:
1) Fear of giving the government too much control, but NN doesn't give them the power to do anything those tinfoil hats are afraid of... And some of it they do already
2) "Hurr durr free market, I have no actual understanding of the current market structure, please fuck me in the ass harder, big daddy corporate"
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TommyG663513 posted...

So why was net neutrality appealed then?

Financial interests might have been at play, but much of it was down to ideology too, specifically "small government" ideology. Basically, ISPs lobby the government for anti-competitive regulations, therefore all regulations must go to foster competition. I'm sure some genuinely think that competition will magically materialize.

The issue is that very little concrete evidence has been provided to show that Title II regulations have harmed competition. It's all just supposition.

Dial up was actually regulated under Title II for many years, throughout the 90s and until 2005. Back then, competition was at its greatest, with there being many options to choose from. Broadband, on the other hand, has always been regulated under Title I's weaker regulations (except for the short period from 2015 to 17) and competition has been always been poor. So if anything, that shows the exact opposite.

TommyG663513 posted...

So when does this all go in to effect?

It has. But ISPs haven't yet changed plans (to my knowledge)
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Antifar posted...

It has. But ISPs haven't yet changed plans (to my knowledge)

I don't think it will for a few months yet (so I've seen quoted by a few publications). There are appeals being launched.

http://thehill.com/policy/technology/365184-fcc-vote-wont-end-net-neutrality-fight

The FCC said that the net neutrality repeal has to be approved by the Office of Management and Budget before it can go into effect a process that could take months.