With net neutrality coming to an end in the United States, there are fewer rules governing the way the internet works. Net Neutrality protections prohibited internet providers from favoring or blocking access to particular products or websites. Six months after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to repeal the Obama era policy known as net neutrality, setting off a massive consumer backlash and warnings about a segregated internet, the changes formally took effect.
The FCC voted to repeal those protections in December saying that the rules were too heavy handed and belonged to an era far left behind. According to the newly revised rules, one of the major benefits come to the internet providers. People will now be able to effectively slow down certain websites and apps, as well as increase the price rates for their opponents.
FCC chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement he championed the repeal to “protect consumers and promote better, faster internet access and more competition”, noting the internet had flourished without net neutrality rules and arguing the rules disadvantaged small internet service providers and rural customers.
“At the dawn of the commercial internet, President Clinton and a Republican Congress agreed on a light touch framework to regulating the internet. Under that approach, the internet was open and free. Network investment topped $ 1.5 trillion. Netflix, Facebook, Amazon, and Google went from small startups to global tech giants. America’s internet economy became the envy in the world.”
Now the appeal is in effect, several broad band providers have said they are still going to follow the Obama set rules. While the removal of neutrality comes as a blessing in disguise to certain providers, one thing is for sure. Net neutrality supporters are going to keep fighting till a common ground is agreed upon by the United States Government and the FCC.
