Internet Neutrality at Stake

What is the issue?

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the US announced the ‘Restoring Internet Freedom Order’.
• This could potentially end the content neutral era of the internet.

What is Net neutrality?

• It is the concept in which all online content providers (all websites or apps) are treated equally by telecom operators.
• Notably, consumers get access to all websites equally and speed of access is not differentiated for any content.
• ISPs are mandated to not interfere with or block the content that a consumer accesses, views or posts online.
• This also specifically outlaws content specific offers/charges on consumers in order to ensure equality.

What is the current announcement?

• FCC rules issued in 2015 aimed at upholding neutrality neutrality.
• The current ruling undoes this and favours giving sweeping powers to ISPs over the content consumers can access.
• This ruling is almost certain be cleared in FCCs next open meeting.
• Reasons - FCC claims that the ruling is to remove what it calls “heavy-handed Internet regulations”.
• These regulations, it believes is holding back investment, innovation, and job creation in the sector.
• FCC also noted that it didn’t want to micromanage the Internet.
• Criticism – This allows ISPs could give preferential treatment to particular sites and apps, and to their own digital content.
• ISPs could also block access to sites or cap network speeds by segregating the Internet into fast and slow lanes.
• Charging consumers extra for better access to some sites and distorting fair trade is also a possibility.
• This would also lead to blocking of or slowing down of competitor’s content and unfavourable political opinions.

How can these distortions be addressed?

• FCC might no longer regulate content that ISPs provide.
• Hence, the job of protecting consumers from detrimental business practices will go to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
• Notably, FTC neither has any telecommunications expertise nor rule-making authority in this area.

Who benefits from the order?

• Big ISPs such as AT&T Inc, Comcast Corp and Verizon Communications Inc, stand to benefit due to these changes.
• They can now design schemes to charge consumers as well as content providers.  
• Notably, in recent years, ISPs have tried offers such as discounts on their service in exchange for browsing history of users.
• Some ISPs are reported to have tried to drive users to their own apps by excluding them from mobile data usage limits.
• On the contrast, Alphabet Inc, Facebook Inc, Amazon and Netflix Inc were among the big firms that are currently opposed to the ruling.

Source: Indian Express