No neutrality on net neutrality

Has equality cost America innovation? It’s a big question at the heart of the fight over business practices of providing internet service.

This is the net neutrality debate. In 2015, the Obama administration-era Federal Communications Commission changed regulatory lanes and reclassified the internet as a utility, allowing it to put in place rules requiring internet service providers like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T to treat all content equally. No “fast lanes” for preferred websites. No “slow lanes” for competitors.

Remember, Verizon owns both AOL and Yahoo. AT&T is trying to buy Time Warner, which owns HBO. Comcast owns NBC. Charter Communications and Sprint reportedly have been exploring a merger. The days of an internet service provider staying in its lane are long gone.

The FCC proposes to end mandatory neutrality for internet service providers. Supporters, like FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, think doing so would strengthen competition, unleashing new technologies and services. Opponents worry allowing virtual tollbooths on the internet will lead to higher costs for consumers. The public comment period for the FCC plan closes Wednesday. No communications regulation has attracted so many comments — 20 million and counting. Though, this being about the internet, thousands likely have been generated by bots.

A shrunken FCC already approved a proposal to do away with net neutrality. That began the public comment period ending in the week ahead.

The Jitterbug Flip is an inexpensive, no-frills phone, and that limits your photo-transfer options. Because the phone lacks internet or email access, and has no removable memory card, you are supposed to transfer the photos to your PC via a USB cable.

But make sure you’re using the cable correctly. The USB cable must be connected to the USB port on the side of the phone. If the USB cable is plugged into the phone’s charging dock, your PC won’t be able to recognize the phone.