What is Net neutrality? The ultimate guide (Updated 2024)

Reading time: 5 min

The FCC has voted to roll back the rules on net neutrality in what is a controversial move.  Roughly, a third of all Americans are actually unsure about what net neutrality even is, so we’ve summarized what you should know and how it can affect internet users.

what net neutrality even is

What is Net Neutrality?

Net neutrality is the principle that all online data should be treated the same way.

The concept is ISPs shouldn’t discriminate against internet users by charging differently or throttling bandwidth due to the websites they access, their locations, the type of content, etc.

With net neutrality rules, governments can regulate the ISPs, so they can’t slide some data into “fast lanes” while blocking access to sites like Netflix, or other streaming services.

What Countries Have Net Neutrality?

Different Countries see the concept of net neutrality in their own way. Some countries, like Singapore and Indonesia, have taken steps not in accordance with the idea, banning foreign international services to favor regional counterparts.

Other countries, like the Netherlands and the United States, passed regulations that prevent ISPs from discrimination against internet users.

FCC Net Neutrality regulations
The United States passed rules for enforcing net neutrality in 2015, however, a vote by the FCC in 2017 has now repealed those rules. There is still a chance that Congress could pass a law that will protect net neutrality.

What’s Happening with Net Neutrality Rules

The net neutrality rules established in 2015 were short-lived, lasting only a few years. While many people agree with the basic idea of net neutrality, plans for bringing about the seemingly uncontroversial principle attract conflict.

Net Neutrality Rules
In 2015, the then Democrat-led FCC reclassified ISPs so they would have to adhere to the same regulations as telephone networks. This was necessary to establish the legal basis of the net neutrality rules, however, it resulted in a huge backlash from Republicans.

In 2017, the Republican-led FCC voted to repeal the rules in a 3-2 decision. The FCC Chairman criticized the regulations, claiming they were “a mistake” and “heavy-handed.” He argued that these rules stifled investment and hindered innovation.

On June 11, the net neutrality rules put in place during the last administration ceased to exist. The Federal Trade Commission now has the responsibility of protecting internet users.

The FTC can take action against companies that commit fraudulent or anti-competitive activities, violate contracts with consumers, or participate in the anti-competitive and fraudulent activity.

Arguments For Net Neutrality

1 Protecting digital rights and freedoms

Net neutrality encourages freedom of speech and prevents major ISPs possessing too much media power and stifling independent content. With the repeal of net neutrality, it is possible for ISPs to control data and limit or block access to content.

If we let cable companies offer two speeds of service, they won’t be Usain Bolt and Usain Bolt on a motorbike. They will be Usain Bolt, and Usain bolted to an anchor.

– John Oliver

Your ability to access a website depends on your desire to access the website and not the deals that the intermediaries have made with each other.

– Cindy Cohn

2 Promoting competition and innovation

With ISPs unable to control the flow of data or charge higher fees for priority services, the internet is more open to entrepreneurs and innovative ideas.

3 Preventing pseudo-services

In 2014, Netflix announced they paid Comcast and Verizon extra to avoid bandwidth throttling. The fear is that, rather than R&D investments, ISPs will leverage their quality of service and demand payments to refrain from bandwidth throttling.

4 Supporting small businesses

As internet users prefer responsive websites, just a single second delay can cause them to lose interest, and this is where bandwidth discrimination by ISPs can lead to issues. For example, if small businesses’ sites don’t load as fast as larger competitors’, they will suffer.

Arguments Against Net Neutrality

1 Cuts to investment

ISPs have argued against the net neutrality rules claiming they take away their ability to better monetize business, driving away investors. That in the long term, net neutrality will impede and damage networks.

2 Unnecessary regulations

Some opponents of net neutrality rules consider them “overkill,” claiming that, “the internet has functioned well for the past 15 years without it.” The argument here is that government regulations would only hinder innovation.

My concern is that, by imposing those heavy-handed economic regulations on Internet service providers big and small, we could end up disincentivizing companies from wanting to build out Internet access to a lot of parts of the country, in low-income, urban and rural areas, for example.

– Ajit Pai

3 Preventing price surge

Ajit Pai has stated that, according to ISPs, “regulatory intrusion into our businesses… would likely force us to raise prices, delay deployment expansion, or both” and “will badly strain our limited resources.

How a VPN Can Help

Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Overall, we stand behind the principle of net neutrality. While ISPs have investment issues regarding net neutrality, the solution shouldn’t impact internet users negatively.

Previous incidents have shown internet providers, like Verizon and Comcast, may not be entirely ethical, highlighting the need for regulations within the industry.

Unfortunately, the FCC has voted to repeal the rules concerning Net Neutrality. Many states, however, have devised their own legislation, while some tech companies have launched lawsuits against the FCC to preserve the rules.

In spite of all this, a VPN can help protect you against some issue that could arise from the repeal. With a VPN service, you can alter the location of your IP address if you ever face censorship or online discrimination due to that aspect.

ISPs are unable to track your online activity while connected to a VPN, with your data encrypted. The content you view can’t be restricted and you’re free to browse most sites without incurring any problems.

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Justyn Newman
Written By Justyn Newman
Justyn Newman is the Head Content Manager at WizCase. He, along with his talented team of writers, editors, and content managers ensures that the best content is produced. Having begun his journey with WizCase as a writer and editor, Justyn is a subject matter expert versed in every step of the content creation process for VPNs, Antivirus, and Password Managers. Prior to WizCase, Justyn worked as a freelance writer, freelance editor, and he spend some time as the Chief Editor for an indie novel publisher. Justyn has been writing professionally since 2015 and has worked in a wide range of niches from PC building to tabletop RPG guides. Outside of work, Justyn spends his time reading, working on his manuscript, and planning for his next TTRPG game. He also takes the time to enjoy nature in the beautiful Pacific Northwest where he resides with his partner and their two fuzzy children.
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