Open internet shouldn’t be partisan issue

A free and open internet should not be a partisan issue. In today’s world, the internet is not a want — it is a necessity for any business and most citizens to function on a day-to-day basis . ...

Yet, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission would like to remove rules that currently prevent internet service providers from having a frightening amount of power. Without the rules — collectively known as net neutrality — nothing would stop ISPs from a host of actions most would find abhorrent. Let’s review some of the potential consequences.

ISPs could create fast and slow lanes for websites, charging a streaming service like Netflix an exorbitant rate. Those companies could also slow down speeds to Netflix in order push customers toward their own streaming services — the same with any other media companies they own. They could also do this with content providers whose ideology they don’t like — so an ISP with a liberal bent could slow speeds down to Fox News while an ISP favoring conservative ideology could do the same to MSNBC, just to name a few examples . ...

While it appears the FCC board members have made their minds up ahead of a Dec. 14 vote on the subject, calling federal lawmakers still has a chance to make a difference, and we urge residents to do so.

Read the full editorial from the Ashtabula Star-Beacon at bit.ly/2ApynKC