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Since its invention, the Internet has operated under net neutrality, in which Internet service providers transmit all online traffic equally.
In January, a court struck down certain rules from the Federal Communications Commission, saying that the FCC needs to classify the Internet in one of two ways in order to regulate it.
The FCC now faces the
choice
of legally classifying broadband Internet as a "common carrier," which would protect net neutrality, or an "information service." Classifying it as an information service would allow Internet service providers to charge certain companies or Internet services for faster service, making some sites less accessible to consumers.
President Obama weighed in on the debate this week. “Whether you use a computer, phone or tablet, Internet providers have a legal obligation not to block or limit your access to a Web site. Cable companies can’t decide which online stores you can shop at or which streaming services you can use, and they can’t let any company pay for priority over its competitors.”
Internet service providers say that fees from charging companies would give them the ability to improve their technology. But the change could have a huge effect on consumers, who could be influenced to use certain websites and services because of faster traffic, according to Megan Smith, chief U.S. technology officer at the White House.
"If you were on the phone, you wouldn’t want your phone provider to, say, stop you from calling Hertz if you wanted Avis," she said. "We want to make sure that the Internet operates the same way that the phone service operates."
Charging for faster service would also negatively affect small Internet-based businesses who rely on broadband, Smith said.
The FCC has received 3.7 million comments from Americans on the issue. A decision is expected by the end of the year.
Warm up questions
- What are the top three reasons you use the Internet?
- Are you ever frustrated by the speed of the Internet?
Critical thinking questions
- Do you think that it was appropriate for President Obama to speak out about net neutrality? Why might this complicate things?
- How might things change if the FCC decides to no longer observe net neutrality?
- If you owned a cable company, what would you do to counter the president’s statements?
