The Federal Communications Commission (F.C.C.) voted on Thursday afternoon to repeal net neutrality, a rule that regulates telecommunications companies (Verizon, Comcast, AT&T, etc.) and prevents them from shaping the consumer’s Internet experience. This means that now, these companies can profit from the restriction of how we use the Internet. And although this decision inspired mass outrage throughout the country, it is important to note that the fight for free internet is not over yet.
Ajit Pai, chairman of the FCC, led the vote with the defense that the repeal of net neutrality would eventually benefit consumers because providers would be able to offer a variety of service options, accompanied by his fellow two Republican commissioners to make the vote three against two, despite the millions of Americans who disagree with the movement.
It is important to note that Pai is overlooking or merely ignoring the plethora of negative effects of the repeal. It is also important to note that internet users will not witness dramatic changes instantly, for these companies are well-aware that the topic of network neutrality has a lot of attention on it at the moment. But this attention from politicians and citizens alike is not guaranteed to last long.
With the hypothetical continuation of the repeal of net neutrality, users would find telecommunication companies gradually diminishing the quality of their service while charging additional fees, leaving the consumer helpless in the matter.
One of the most dangerous aspects of the net neutrality repeal is the censorship that the companies would be capable of. As the American Civil Liberties Union highlighted in their most recent blog post, a Canadian telecommunication company has, in the past, blocked access to its union’s website during a battle with the union. Whether or not that this would necessarily occur, it would be legal for these companies to openly discriminate or favor other companies according to their own business with them. Another example was provided by The Washington Post: “under the net neutrality rules Verizon was not allowed to favor Yahoo and AOL, which it owns, by blocking Google. […] Under the new rules, that type of behavior would be legal, as long as Verizon disclosed it.”
The policies passed on Thursday mark unprecedented territory: FCC members have often battled over how to enforce regulations on net neutrality, but it has never occurred where the commission intends to step back entirely.
As for what actions can be taken in order to prevent the death of net neutrality, the next step would most likely be to take it to court, where multiple advocacy groups for network neutrality would challenge the FCC’s decision. But many experts are beginning to believe that the case is going to face obstacles in court, as the most plausible argument that advocacy groups would use would be insufficient on an already-passed institution.
The battle for maintaining net neutrality is also brought to Congress, where advocates for net neutrality would most likely plot to use the Congressional Review Act, which gives Congress the power to reverse actions within 60 days of their enactment.
A majority of experts and advocacy groups for network neutrality alike are putting their faith in Congress over courts, hoping that if the federal government fails to intervene, state legislation would be able to enact laws that could protect citizens from the institution.
However, these solutions proposed for Congress to use all require bipartisanship- something our government has been extremely lacking in recently. Currently, not enough members of Congress are against the repeal to incite mass action. The government branches are all headed by the Republican party, a party full of either skeptics or those who are for the repeal. The conflict itself is beginning to turn into a game of parties instead of policies.
“Tribal partisanship is dominating our public policy debates,” said communications lawyer Marc Martin. “It wasn’t always this way. First adopted and enforced during the Bush administration, net neutrality began as a non controversial policy to protect consumers’ use of online platforms.”
And, even if the repeal somehow manages to be terminated in either the court or Congress, the one to interpret the old rules would be none other than Ajit Pai.
However, with all things considered, it is still extremely important to maintain the battle for network neutrality. To take action, you can call 202-759-776 to contact Congress or text ‘BATTLE’ to 384-387, and continue spreading information and educating others about the battle for network neutrality.
