Within a month the fate of Net Neutrality will be decided. On December 14th the FCC is looking to repeal regulations that limit ISPs control of the internet. This vote will likely end net neutrality. And although net neutrality sounds complicated, it is simple to understand.
So what is Net Neutrality?
Net neutrality describes an internet where ISPs (e.g. Comcast) must treat all data equally. This is the current state of the internet, giving undiscriminated access to all services.
Why the FCC is looking to remove regulations (Anti Net Neutrality).
The internet bombards us with reasons to keep a neutral net; so we will start with the view of FCC chairman Ajit V. Pai. Pai is against the current regulations and against neutrality. He argues that it is not the job of the government to micromanage how ISP provide their services. Adding that doing so is limiting competition between companies and stopping innovation. Telecommunication companies (i.e. ISPs) agree with his stance because they feel restricted. They want an internet where providers can determine their own services.
So why is everyone freaking out(Pro Net Neutrality)?
There is a fear that unregulated ISPs will manipulate the internet in unfair ways. The most common fear is ISPs throttling speeds. When a company throttles, they are speeding up or slowing down connection speeds. Imagine the internet as a highway split into two lanes. One lane is a fast lane where data that has paid an ISP premiums to experience faster speeds. The other lane is a slow lane where speeds are slow and all other traffic travels. In the most extreme scenario ISPs can slow down speeds so much that they affect service. This could be used to force users or service providers to pay extra for useable speeds. There also is a fear that smaller companies will be unable to pay for better speeds reducing competition. Most people are pro net neutrality for these reasons.
Final Thoughts
There is currently an uproar online to keep net neutrality. You can join in by speaking up and commenting on the FCC website.
TLDR
Net Neutrality the concept that the internet should treat all data equally. Currently the FCC has regulations limiting ISPs and creating a neutral net. On December 14th a vote will likely remove these regulations. This will allow ISPs to discriminate between data creating an internet where speeds are determined by a paid premium.
