Don’t let FCC end the Internet as we know it
One of us is the inventor of the personal computer, the other a former member of the Federal Communications Commission. We come from different walks of life, but we both recognize that the FCC is considering action that could end the Internet as we know it — a dynamic platform for entrepreneurship, jobs, education and free expression.
Will consumers and citizens control their online experiences, or will a few gigantic gatekeepers take this technology down the road of centralized control, toll booths and constantly rising prices for consumers? At stake is the nature of the Internet and its capacity to transform our lives even more than it already has.
The Senate today is expected to approve another term for FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, and the FCC may vote this month on his plan to wipe away the open Internet. If Pai’s majority permits fast lanes for the biggest Internet service providers (ISPs such as Comcast, Verizon and AT&T), companies could speed up or slow down the sites and services they prefer.
That’ll be great for their business affiliates and corporate friends, but woe to the start-up that wants to build the next great Web service — it could find itself in the slow lane, unable to compete with established firms. And pity the local blogger who criticizes her ISP’s crummy service — the broadband gatekeeper would be free to slow or silence her.
Net neutrality can be highly technical, but there’s a simple principle underneath the jargon: Broadband consumers should have access to lawful content without ISP interference. That means no censorship or fast lanes.
Though Pai thinks “paid prioritization” would somehow benefit consumers, allowing ISPs to make such arrangements would stifle innovation online and make it harder for the next great streaming service or social network to reach the market.
A fast lane for some is a slow lane for all others. Even more troubling than the threat to consumers is the impact this could have on democracy. Ending net neutrality would take freedom and choice from the less powerful.
This is a core issue for our civil society. Americans of every political persuasion depend on the Internet to educate themselves, speak their minds and organize for change. Mass mobilizations on all sides of the climate, health care and immigration debates illustrate the point.
Even as our political discourse reaches unprecedented levels of polarization, 77% of Americans, including overwhelming majorities of both Republicans and Democrats, support maintaining net neutrality.
The FCC must abandon its illconceived plan to end net neutrality. Instead of creating fast lanes for the few, it should be moving all of us to the fast lane by encouraging competition in local broadband connectivity and pushing companies to deliver higher speeds at more affordable prices. It’s the right thing for us as consumers and as citizens.
Steve Wozniak co-founded Apple Computer, Inc. with Steve Jobs and created the Apple I and Apple II series computers. Michael Copps, a member of the Federal Communications Commission from 2001 to 2011, is a special adviser for Common Cause.