What Is Net Neutrality? The Complete WIRED Guide

Net neutrality is the idea that internet service providers (ISPs) like Comcast and Verizon should treat all content flowing through their cables and cell towers equally.

ISPs Shouldn’t Be Able to Block Some Sorts of Data

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) spent years trying to enforce net neutrality protections, but after a series of legal defeats at the hands of broadband providers, the FCC passed a sweeping net neutrality order in 2015. However, in December 2017, the Republican-controlled FCC voted to jettison that order, freeing broadband providers to block or throttle content as they see fit unless Congress or the courts block the agency’s decision.

A Brief History of Net Neutrality

The concept of net neutrality dates back to Ancient Rome, where governments passed special laws to ensure open access to crucial services. In the US, telephone providers are classified as common carriers, and internet providers were considered their customers until the dial-up era. If it hadn’t been for their common carrier status, telcos might have gotten away with charging customers more to access the internet than to make traditional voice calls.

The FCC’s Net Neutrality Order

In 2010, the Obama-era FCC passed a more detailed net neutrality order that it hoped would stand up to legal scrutiny. However, the agency was sued again by Verizon in 2014, and the court ruled that the agency didn’t have the authority to impose net neutrality regulations on services that weren’t considered common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act.

The Fight for Net Neutrality

Net neutrality proponents worried that a new proposal floated by the FCC in 2014 would allow internet “fast lanes.” The idea drew the ire of comedian John Oliver, who encouraged viewers of his show Last Week Tonight to file comments expressing their support for net neutrality. The flood of comments crashed the FCC’s website, and the agency eventually received 21.9 million comments on the issue.

The Impact of Net Neutrality

If ISPs are allowed to block or throttle content, it could have significant impacts on internet users. For example, they might be unable to access services like Skype, or experience slow-downs when trying to stream Netflix or Hulu.

Conclusion

Net neutrality is a complex and contentious issue that has been debated for years. While the FCC has passed net neutrality orders in the past, the current state of net neutrality is uncertain. As the fight for net neutrality continues, it’s essential to understand the concept and its implications for internet users.

Related Content

• WIRED net neutrality coverage

• More WIRED Guides

How Does It Work?

• ISPs shouldn’t be able to block some sorts of data and prioritize others.

• They shouldn’t be able to slide some data into “fast lanes” while blocking or otherwise discriminating against other material.

• This means they can’t block you from accessing a service like Skype, or slow down Netflix or Hulu.

History of Net Neutrality

• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) spent years trying to enforce net neutrality protections under both the Bush and Obama administrations.

• After a series of legal defeats at the hands of broadband providers, the FCC passed a sweeping net neutrality order in 2015.

• However, in December 2017, the now Republican-controlled FCC voted to jettison that order, freeing broadband providers to block or throttle content as they see fit.

Latest Developments

• In January 2017, President Trump appointed Republican FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai as the agency’s new chair.

• He announced a plan to reverse the 2015 net neutrality order in April 2017.

• The FCC website was once again flooded with comments, but many of which were filed not by people but by bots.

What’s Next?

• If you want to know more about what broadband providers are most likely to do once the net neutrality rules go away, start here.

• We take a deeper look at the ways companies already use data caps to shape your internet experience, and what clues these practices provide about what the future holds.

• The Covid-19 pandemic shows the virtues of net neutrality, highlighting why people need unfettered access content.

State-Level Net Neutrality

• Several states have passed executive orders to protect net neutrality, but no state’s protections are quite as robust as the Obama-era FCC rules.

• California could change that with its toughest net neutrality bill yet, which is on hold pending the resolution of a challenge from the Department of Justice.

• Other states like Oregon and Washington have also passed their own rules.