After much consideration and public debate, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 to maintain the internet as a utility in the public domain. While many of us have heard the term “net neutrality” in recent news, the details of the issue remain unclear for many. As heavy internet users, college students should be aware of what the FCC’s decision actually means for the average user.
The net neutrality debate, put most simply, is an argument about whether or not to allow companies to charge consumers more for a “fast lane” or less for a “slow lane” on the internet. The argument has split officials and the public into two basic opposing groups. Those that support keeping the internet a public utility argue that companies like AT&T making internet access dependent on payment levels would take away the freedom and openness of the internet that is celebrated by the public. However, others, many conservatives, say that this is a government action regulating business practices unnecessarily, and giving the government too much control.
For college students and internet users, there is practically no downside to the new regulations. Within a multi-tiered internet offering structure, internet customers would have been subject to a complicated process of deciding whether to pay more for faster internet or to settle for a sort of second-class internet access. Moreover, these regulations are a safety net for internet users in that all consumers receive equal access to the internet without paying various premiums.
The news is even better for entrepreneurial students interested in creating their own websites. The FCC regulations defeated the fear that internet service providers would distinguish between first and second rate customers by blocking certain websites from cheaper internet packages. Thus, website creators and owners can rest assured knowing that the content they create online will remain available to any internet consumer who wishes to view it.
Those that take a hit from the FCC’s regulations shouldn’t be completely ignored, though. Internet service providers will now have continuous pressure placed on them to provide faster and faster internet - without the advantage of charging more for better service. In the long run, this could actually hurt internet users because internet service providers have less motivation to increase the efficiency of bandwidth service because they aren’t receiving increased sales and profit for doing so. However, competition among providers for market share may act as motivation to continue improving internet service, even without higher profit margins.
To summarize, many parties, including internet service providers, government officials, and internet users and consumers, have presented arguments regarding the validity of net neutrality. For now, the FCC has decided that the internet will be a government regulated public utility, mostly favoring internet consumers and website owners. This is an extremely important issue. Because of the significance of the internet in recent times, the whole of the United States economy, and individuals like college students are affected. In a statement from the White House, President Obama said, “Ever since the Internet was created, it's been organized around basic principles of openness, fairness and freedom. There are no gatekeepers deciding which sites you get to access. There are no toll roads on the information superhighway." The FCC has supported and confirmed this principle.
