When you log on to the internet, be it on your phone, computer, or other device, you expect to be able to access all websites, applications and content of your choice. As the user, you want to be in control of what you are personally viewing or experiencing. That means if you check your email and then want to check Facebook and then want to peruse your favorite porn sites, blogs or even dating apps—you hope to do so without interruptions or interference. This, my friends, is Net Neutrality.
Net Neutrality is the foundation of internet use that protects our rights to communicate freely online—an internet that preserves our freedom of speech and privileges to all websites and applications without blocking or discriminating the content.
Without Net Neutrality, phone companies such as AT&T, Comcast, Verizon could have the power to place the internet into what they consider to be fast and slow lanes. An Internet Service Provider (ISP) could block or slow down the access to a competitor’s content based on its own opinions or even charge extra fees to access more content—allowing only those who could afford it to view. Like those pesky premium accounts that already exists on apps, but worse!
In 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was pressured by millions of activists to instate Net Neutrality rules that keep the internet free and open for all—but now the Trump administration and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai have threatened to dismantle Net Neutrality.
If this succeeds, access to your internet browsing could be limited or disappear! No more unlimited streaming videos, no more entry to your daily dose of news or even, dare I say it? Reading this post or other Instinct Magazine content, etcetera etcetera.
On July 12th many of the world’s biggest internet companies came together in protest against the FCC’s attack on Net Neutrality.
Here are how some giants made their voices heard:
Do you want to continue to freely access your favorite websites, apps and content wherever and whenever you want? You can help do your part to battle the regulations of Net Neutrality by sending a letter to the FCC and Congress HERE
