Opinion

Congress must act to protect net neutrality

Posted December 01, 2017 12:00 am

We are in an age when government oversight is questioned on a daily basis, but in the case of net neutrality, it is absolutely necessary. Repealing net neutrality would essentially turn your internet Service Provider, Verizon, Comcast, AT&T, etc., into the single most influential gatekeeper of your entire online experience. The FCC will vote to do exactly this on Dec. 14.

For those who support repealing net neutrality, I have several questions:

Are you OK with the entirety of the internet being divided into packages, similar to cable television?

Are you OK with being told that your favorite websites are not supported by your ISP, and for that reason, you will not be able to access them?

Are you aware that Comcast owns NBC? Would you be OK with whatever decisions Comcast makes regarding competitive news organizations?

Are you aware that Verizon owns Yahoo? Would you be OK with not being permitted to use Google?

Would you be OK with being told that your ISP doesn't support Google or Facebook?

Would you be OK with not receiving the political news coverage you currently receive because it doesn't mesh with your ISP's beliefs?

The fact is, we don't know what happens when the fox is allowed to guard the henhouse, but we have a pretty good idea. The FCC has enforced net neutrality with ISPs in the past. If there's no neutrality law to enforce, the ISPs will have free reign.

Congress and the courts must stop the FCC from repealing current net neutrality rules on Dec. 14.

Matt Brennan

Sugar Grove

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