WHAT IS NET NEUTRALITY?
Net Neutrality is a Free Speech Issue
Net Neutrality is the principle that everyone who uses the internet, and all content on the internet, can not be discriminated against. With Net Neutrality, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like Comcast, Century Link and others or governments cannot charge you differently based on how you use the internet, what equipment you use, or the content of your message. Currently, it is illegal for ISPs to intentionally block, slow down, or charge money for specific content.
In other words, Net Neutrality keeps the internet as it is, and accessible to everyone. It has allowed the internet to be what it is today.
Eliminating net Neutrality would change this.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT
Like to stream movies? That’s an extra $10. Want to check your email from a computer? Add $5. Want to use Gmail specifically? Sorry - another $15. Gaming? Ooooh that’s gonna be some bandwidth - an additional $45. Porn? Don’t even get me started, and you better hope you don’t hit that new data cap.
Without Net Neutrality what we use the internet for can be sold to us in packages. AND, it doesn’t ensure we’d get that material quickly, or with better service. For example, if Comcast wants you to use their platform for streaming movies rather than Netflix - they can simply slow your data down when you’re on Netflix, so your videos never load, while increasing the speed to their own platform.
The Cascadia movement supports local, small and grassroots businesses, causes and community organizations that would be negatively impacted by abolishing net neutrality, and would be unable to effectively compete without a fair framework in place.
WHAT HAPPENS IN A WORLD WITH NO NET NEUTRALITY?
A short history of how ISP's abuse consumers whenever they can do so:
2005 - Madison River Communications was blocking VOIP services. The FCC put a stop to it.
2005 - Comcast was denying access to p2p services without notifying customers.
2007-2009 - AT&T was having Skype and other VOIPs blocked because they didn't like there was competition for their cellphones. 2011 - MetroPCS tried to block all streaming except youtube. (edit: they actually sued the FCC over this)
2011-2013, AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon were blocking access to Google Wallet because it competed with their bullshit. edit: this one happened literally months after the trio were busted collaborating with Google to block apps from the android marketplace
2012, Verizon was demanding google block tethering apps on android because it let owners avoid their $20 tethering fee. This was despite guaranteeing they wouldn't do that as part of a winning bid on an airwaves auction. (edit: they were fined $1.25million over this)
2012, AT&T - tried to block access to FaceTime unless customers paid more money.
2013, Verizon literally stated that the only thing stopping them from favoring some content providers over other providers were the net neutrality rules in place.
