{"id":2394,"date":"2017-11-28T08:37:01","date_gmt":"2017-11-28T08:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tribelocal.com\/?p=2394"},"modified":"2018-01-09T18:49:03","modified_gmt":"2018-01-09T13:19:03","slug":"repealing-net-neutrality-affect-local-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tribelocal.com\/repealing-net-neutrality-affect-local-business\/","title":{"rendered":"How Repealing Net Neutrality Will Affect Local Business ?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The internet is a fascinating place. It allows people to find products and services, get in touch with family and friends, watch videos, listen to songs, do their banking work, and play games. However, all these wonderful aspects of the internet may change after 14 December, after the Federal Communications Commission votes to repeal net neutrality. <\/span><\/p>\n

Net neutrality is a contentious topic in the US. Those for net neutrality state that changing the status quo would adversely affect small and local businesses and consumers while those against net neutrality believe that the existing laws are too restrictive and need to change to give more freedom to the content that is available in the World Wide Web. <\/span><\/p>\n

Before delving into how repealing net neutrality would affect local business, it is necessary to understand the premise of net neutrality.<\/span><><\/p>\n

What is Net Neutrality?<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

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\"net-neutrality\"<\/p>\n

Net neutrality refers to the principle that all internet traffic is treated and considered equal. There is no distinction between who posts the content and why, and all types of content are meted the same treatment. It is this equality that allows any and everyone access to the information they require and it has resulted in creating a dynamic online world that people know today as the internet<\/span><\/p>\n

However, this is set to change. Come December 14, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under the aegis of the chairman, Ajit Pai, will be voting to repeal the Obama administration\u2019s <\/span>Open Internet Order<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span>, which was put into place in 2015. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Open Internet Order prevents broadband providers from charging more for internet <\/span>fast lanes to access certain content and blocking or slowing down certain content<\/span><\/a><\/span>. Those who are against the repeal claim that by getting rid of the existing law, internet service providers will have complete control over the internet and they will get to decide which content is the winner and which the loser. In other words, certain content will get preferential treatment while other content will get step-motherly treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Equal-lanes\"<\/p>\n

The current rules <\/span>put internet service providers (ISPs) under a utility-like law<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span> in accordance to Title II of the Communications Act of 1934.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Does the 2015 Open Internet Order Enforce?<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

In 2015, the then commissioner of the FCC, <\/span>Thomas Wheeler<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>, too was against enforcing complete net neutrality. A leaked document in 2014 revealed that Mr. Wheeler was planning to make it easier for ISPs to receive payment from companies to provide their content on fast lanes so that internet users could find it more quickly. However, that was not to be. Rumors suggest that President Barack Obama was instrumental in changing Mr. Wheeler\u2019s mind. The end result was 2015 Open Internet Order under Title II, 1934 Communications Act. <\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>regulation enforces many different rules<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>, including the following:<\/span><\/p>\n