Net neutrality: From today June 11, 2018, every legal protection against content discrimination the internet will disappear. What does this mean; The neutrality of the internet simply does not exist anymore.
The bill was passed in December of 2017 when FCC chairman Ajit Pai filed the Restoring Internet Freedom Order, which was adopted with 3-2 votes by the parties. The mandate received by Pai enters into force today, meaning that internet service providers will be able to do almost anything they want.
What can we see? Paid prioritization of online traffic. It will take a long time to see the results of the new regulation, but we will see them. It is a long and slow process that will shape the Internet in a very bad way.
Net neutrality: What exactly changes?
At its core, net neutrality means that all online traffic is treated equally. Regulations introduced (Open Internet Order) in 2015 by Wheeler prevented ISPs from throttling or blocking traffic by offering fast lines. The Wheeler regulations provided strong legal support for the use of the Internet as a public service, such as telephone services, the electric one energy and water.
Pai's regulations invalidate the previous law. Its mandate means in short that regulatory authorities have no legal basis for blocking the paid opt-out for faster lines, limiting or other breaches of network neutrality. In essence, carriers are free to do whatever they want.
What is happening now on the Internet?
The good news is that it will not look dramatically different in the near future. Your web pages will continue to load at the same rate, and the content you want to view will be viewed by 404-like messages. Providers will not start on the first day, but will continue to follow the path they have been going through for years: They will use their control over the network to promote their services and products.
Theoretically, and only theoretically, competition between internet services would prevent this, but in many parts of the world there is no competition. This will let providers restrict access and charge more anyone who wants to have a serious service.
What are the groups that support neutrality?
Internet neutrality groups are already trying to find ways to prevent it, either through state-level legislation or through complaints to federal courts. The state of Washington and Oregon have already passed legislation with Wheeler's neutrality rules. California passed a bill last month that would restore internet neutrality to the state. But these are just three of the 29 states that signed the Pai bill in December. Governors in six states - including Hawaii, Rhode Island and Vermont - have signed orders banning any service provider from operating unless it adopts the 2015 regulations.
Experts say it is unlikely that providers will start violating regulations directly from the fear of upcoming pipeline.
Net neutrality: What can you do?
Net neutrality isn't over yet. There is still hope. There is one movement in the US Congress right now as it prepares to force the Republican majority to vote to overturn Pai's order and roll back the 2015 rules. Resistance? Online signatures? Whatever the voice of the online community, at least those who continue to care should be heard loudly.
However, in the long run, the future of net neutrality and the Internet as we know it is not clear.
Of course, in Greece, we can not just talk about net neutrality.
_____________________________
- The end of the internet? Abolition of Net neutrality
- Net Neutrality what it is and why it should care
