The Net neutrality rules that govern Internet service providers are expected to be eliminated on Thursday by the Federal Communications Commission. If you think that sounds like a distant Washington decision that won’t affect most of us, think again. The vote could affect everyone who uses the Internet, whether you’re sitting with a laptop and coffee at home or sauntering down the street with a smartphone. Still, it can be hard to make sense of issue. So we’ve broken down the basic details into a jargon-free primer that tells you only what you need to know ahead of Thursday.
What is Net neutrality?
Net neutrality is the idea that Internet service providers should treat all traffic that flows through their networks equally, without slowing down, or even blocking, certain traffic from content providers. It’s essentially how the Internet has always worked — a system that was reinforced under the Obama administration, in 2015, as a way of ensuring fairness on the Web.
Who are the Internet service providers?
Advertisement
You know them well. The Internet service providers include massive companies like Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon, whose ads have been burned into your eyeballs over the years. These companies typically give you access to the Internet through lines that connect to your home, or through wireless signals received by your cellphone, or both. The companies are also referred to as “broadband providers,” which is a way of saying they provide high-speed, always-on Internet service.
Who are the content providers who could be affected?
Content providers include anybody who puts content on the Web. That means anything from a simple Web page to e-mail programs to Facebook and Youtube, along with companies that stream TV and movies, like Netflix and Hulu. Customers enjoy content from these providers by going through the Internet “pipes” maintained by their Internet service providers.
Advertisement
Ahead of Thursday’s vote, critics say that torpedoing 2015 rules would allow Internet service providers to offer “fast lane” and “slow lane” service.
Distrustful of the huge companies involved, critics say the Internet service providers could turn around and charge content providers hefty fees to get their content in “fast lanes” to customers. Having to plunk down money to get your content to customers could hurt startups and smaller companies, which won’t have as much funding as more-established companies. And that could strangle innovation.
The critics also worry that Internet service providers could make faster service available to their sister companies that provide content (Comcast, for example, owns NBC), unfairly favoring them over competitors. Yet another concern is that companies could completely block sites they find objectionable for whatever reason.
They also fret that service providers will end up charging higher prices to consumers.
Comedian John Oliver has gotten a lot of interest in his videos explaining and criticizing the proposal. Here’s one he recorded when the proposal to undo the 2015 Net neutrality rules was unveiled in May. (Warning: Video contains inappropriate language)
What’s the argument on the other side?
Proponents of getting rid of Net neutrality regulations, including President Trump’s new FCC chair Ajit Pai, say that it could encourage Internet service providers to invest more in their systems, bringing better Internet service to people.
They say that the Internet was doing just fine before the Net neutrality regulations were imposed in 2015, and the harms critics foresee are only theoretical. (The Globe’s own Hiawatha Bray says he “can’t see much reason to freak out over the supposed death of Net neutrality.”)
Advertisement
They say there are other laws the government can rely on if the Internet service providers engage in “anti-competitive behavior” like promoting sister companies.
They also conjure up scenarios when data “fast lanes” would be a good thing, saying it might be important for data to get more quickly to a doctor doing telesurgery than to the person checking e-mail or browsing for kooky videos.
Here’s Pai talking up his proposal.
What’s next?
The Federal Communications Commission is headed for a Dec. 14 vote. The two Democrats on the commission say they will oppose the proposal, but there are three Republicans, led by Pai, and they are expected to prevail. It’s possible a legal fight will follow. After that, it may be just a matter of waiting to see if there are unpleasant surprises in your Internet service — or on your bill.
Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.