The phrase ‘net neutrality’ can be confusing so let's start with a simple definition. Net neutrality means that all Internet service providers or ISPs treat all online content equally. It's also known as the open Internet. Before Netflix, when people still had cable television, they had to pay extra to get certain premium channels. But until now the Internet hasn't worked that way. If you have a monthly internet subscription you get access to the whole open Internet. Hence net neutrality is a good thing for consumers, as your ISP cannot charge you more for using Netflix or Facebook or any other service.
The previous vote on net neutrality was in 2015 when the FCC classified it as a public utility and sited it should remain neutral. The current chairman of the FCC, Ajit Pai has never been a fan of net neutrality and he hasn't been quiet about it. He believes that internet providers should be able to block or slow down legal websites and take cuts from bigger websites to deliver their content to users. Major Internet service providers have promised that they won't let this change the way that they charge for Internet.
Huge companies like Amazon or Hulu will be able to spend extra cash to make sure people can view their content but not everyone will be able to do so. Jason Citron the co-founder and CEO of Discord, a chat and video conferencing app claims that net neutrality is important because although his company is popular and well-funded it wouldn't have access to the same resources as bigger companies. Without net neutrality even smaller companies might go out of business and budding startup companies will never get the chance to exist.
What are the benefits to consumers with the repeal of net neutrality?
With net neutrality repealed ISPs can offer packages that only allow certain websites that show family-friendly content to make sure your kids don't get exposed to adult content or cybercriminals. Fast connection speeds could also be guaranteed for health-related mobile applications making it easier and to connect. But in order to make some websites faster there will be some made slower and it could be some of your favorites.
Without net neutrality ISPs however have new powers to discriminate and favor those companies that can afford to pay them more money. Those who support ending net neutrality claim that these are exaggerations intended to scare people. The FCC claims that eliminating net neutrality will help spur innovation but then it also makes it nearly impossible for start-up companies to take flight unless they're backed with a lot of cash. The FCC even claims that the Federal Trade Commission will make sure everyone plays nice but there exists the question over whether or not the FTC has legal authority over internet providers. The FTC isn't supposed to have authority over common carriers such as telephones and railroads and under net neutrality internet was one of those things. Only time will tell what the possible results of this decision could be.
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