Net neutrality: Starting today, June 11, 2018, all legal protections against content discrimination on the internet will disappear. What does this mean? Net neutrality simply doesn’t exist anymore.
The bill was passed in December 2017, when FCC Chairman Ajit Pai filed the Restoring Internet Freedom Order, which passed by a 3-2 vote across parties. Pai’s order goes into effect today, meaning ISPs will be able to do pretty much whatever they want.
What might we see? Paid prioritization of internet traffic. It’ll take some time to see the effects of the new regulation, but we will. It’s a long, slow process that will shape the internet in very ugly ways.
Net neutrality: What exactly is changing?
At its core, net neutrality means that all internet traffic is treated equally. The Open Internet Order, enacted in 2015 by Wheeler, prevented internet service providers from throttling or blocking traffic while offering fast lines. Wheeler’s rules provided strong legal support for treating the internet like a public utility, like telephone service, electricity and water.
Pai’s rules repeal the previous law. The order he obtained means, in short, that regulators have no legal basis to block paid opt-outs for faster lines, throttling or other net neutrality violations. Essentially, carriers are free to do whatever they want.
What’s happening to the internet now?
The good news is that it’s not going to look dramatically different in the near future. Your web pages will still load at the same rate, and you'll see the content you want without 404s. ISPs aren't going to start from day one, but they will continue down the path they've been on for years: They'll use their control of the network to promote their services and products.
In theory, and only in theory, competition between internet services would prevent this from happening, but in many parts of the world, there's no competition. That would leave providers to restrict access and charge more for anyone who wants a serious service.
What are net neutrality groups doing?
Net neutrality groups are already trying to find ways to prevent this, either through state-level legislation or through lawsuits in federal courts. Washington state and Oregon have already passed legislation with Wheeler's net neutrality rules. California passed a bill last month that would restore net neutrality in the state. But those are just three of the 29 states that signed Pai’s bill in December. Governors in six states — including Hawaii, Rhode Island and Vermont — have signed orders barring any service provider from operating unless it adopts the 2015 rules.
Experts say it’s unlikely that providers will immediately start violating the rules for fear of lawsuits.
Net neutrality: What you can do
Net neutrality isn’t over yet. There’s still hope. There is a movement in the US Congress right now that is preparing to force the Republican majority to vote to repeal Pai's mandate and reinstate the 2015 rules. Resistance? Online signatures? Whatever the voice of the online community, at least those who continue to care should be heard loudly.
However, in the long term, the future of net neutrality and the internet as we know it in general is unclear.
Of course, in Greece we cannot exactly talk about net neutrality.
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June 11, 2018 today is the end of Net neutrality
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