Net neutrality, a mandate for internet service providers (ISP) to deliver equal access in speed and coverage for all websites, is the glue that keeps the Internet together.
The internet can be likened to a country with many different types of roads. Net neutrality ensures drivers (internet users) are free to roam any part of the country on equally accessible roads. Without net neutrality, ISPs can take control of the websites that its clients are preferentially exposed to, so freedom of internet usage is curtailed. This could be likened to tolls being placed on certain roads in the country, such that the authority (ISPs) will have the ability to control traffic in proportion to drivers’ purses.
In December 2017, the Federal Communications Council (FCC) in America voted to revoke the Net Neutrality Law, despite strong opposition. This means that ISPs such as Verizon and AT&T will be allowed to favour certain websites over others. For the client (you), this means the entire web will not be at your fingertips; it will be in the fists of the media moguls.
FCC leader Ajit Pai claims the loss of net neutrality is merely a “light touch” of internet control and is necessary for the government to “stop micromanaging the internet.” Although ISPs will have to publish exactly how they are manipulating internet access for its clients, the loss of net neutrality will cause delirious consequences.
What does net neutrality mean for America?
There are two main implications of this in America.
First, the costs to web-based companies and the costs for clients will both rise, while ISPs will enjoy greater profits than ever. ISPs will be able to provide preferential access for those websites which offer to pay the highest fees to have their material publicized. Wealthier companies will begin edging out smaller, and poorer, start-ups and companies. Internet access plans will resemble cable packages, where popular and premium channels are available at exorbitant prices.
Second, the internet will turn into a homogenized market where little opportunity exists for innovators to start new ventures. It will simply be too expensive for these little companies to compete with the major online sharks in order to appease ISPs’ cost demands.
What does net neutrality mean for Canada?
Canada’s internet system is highly interconnected with America’s. Even exchanges of information over shorts distances within Canada are first transferred to American ports before being sent to their destination, in what is known as a “boomerang route.” The loss of net neutrality will ultimately affect Canada and the rest of the world.
Net neutrality, a mandate for internet service providers (ISP) to deliver equal access in speed and coverage for all websites, is the glue that keeps the Internet together.
The most prominent websites on the internet, such as Facebook or Google, will continue to prosper, and completely stifle the growth of smaller websites. Internet users in Canada will face an oligarchic online environment, where sites tuning in to smaller niches will become difficult. Addiction to already popular online sites will become even more rampant. Those wanting to start their own online ventures in Canada will be severely limited in their ability to reach American audiences as Canadian sites will be pushed back. Fees on many websites will rise for Canadian citizens as many of the American-based companies will be forced to charge high subscription premiums.
Canadian telecommunications companies have a very strong monopoly on media (like Rogers, Bell and Telus). A loss of net neutrality in Canada will hugely benefit these companies financially. It is very likely that Canadians will also be fed an internet diet dictated by media corporations. In the long run, this could allow certain political agendas and patterns of thought to be implanted in to the lives of internet users, where the internet will no longer be a tool of democracy, but a tool of hidden dictatorship masquerading as a “freedom to search.”
It is important to note that even with net neutrality laws in place, there is still a lot of favouritism for established websites. Sites like Google have their own content delivery networks (CDN) with service providers, so popular pictures and videos are tailored to the user and can quickly be shown first after a search. The loss of net neutrality will cause this issue to spiral out of control, taking it from the frying pan in to the fire.
By Shameelah Patel
Please note that opinions expressed are the author’s own. They do not necessarily reflect the views and values of The Blank Page
