What is Net Neutrality?
The concept is relatively simply: net neutrality refers to the current state of the internet, where “broadband providers should treat all Internet traffic the same”[1]. Essentially, net neutrality regulations ensure that internet service providers (ISP), like Verison, Comcast, or Bell, allow unrestricted access to the content on the web. This form of regulated internet is considered to be good for users, because it allows users to access internet content without ISP mediation. It is also considered to be good for web corporations because it gives smaller service providers equal access to consumers. The term “net neutrality” was coined by Tim Wu, a professor of law at Columbia University[2].
The Debate
Consumers and web companies worry that without net neutrality regulations, internet service providers could restrict access to certain websites, or purposely slow down the streaming speeds of their competitors’ sites. As an example, without net neutrality there is nothing stopping Shaw from blocking, or slowing the streaming speeds, of Netflix in order to promote Shaw TV. With net neutrality, all internet services are created, and made available, equally. John Oliver asks us to think about the early years of Facebook, and its ability to overtake the market leader Myspace. Facebook’s overtake of market leaders was made possible by net neutrality[3], because social media platforms (big and small) were given equal access to consumers.
In the Facebook example, it’s easy to think of the internet as neutral; however, some say that internet service providers already privilege some websites over others. In an article for Wired.com, Robert McMillan writes that “privileges companies – including Google, Facebook, and Netflix—already benefit from what are essentially internet fast lanes… known as ‘peering connections’ and ‘content delivery servers’”[4]. Those who advocate against net neutrality want to foster healthy capitalist competition between internet service providers, and believe that by deregulating the internet, consumers will be given a wider selection of providers, which stimulates a competitive market[5].
The Law
As with any political debate, it is hard to assign right and wrong to the net neutrality conversation. Unrestricted access to web information can level the playing field for under-served populations, and small web companies; however, capitalism is built upon the principle of competitive markets.
In 2015, The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) supported the Obama administration’s proposal to protect net neutrality in the United States. This decision was heavily supported by web corporations like Google, and Facebook who enjoy the freedom afforded to them by net neutrality. This year, the Trump administration made public their plans to “overturn the Obama-era internet privacy protections”, and repeal the classification of internet services as “common-carrier utility services, which are subject to anti-blocking, and anti-discrimination rules”[6]. The Republican Party hopes that by de-regulating the internet, they will promote competition, and boost the economy. In response to this process, a protest was held on July 12 called the Day of Action for Net Neutrality. This protest was supported by large organizations such as creative commons, Dropbox, the ACLU, Vimeo, Netflix, Kickstarter, Twitter, Pornhub, and others[7]. Despite these protests, the Republican Party went forward with their repeal of American Net Neutrality and successfully overturned the Obama era policies on December 14, 2017[8]. Groups opposed to the repeal of Net Neutrality continue to fight against the Republican decision, and on January 8, 2018 the Democratic Party attempted to instigate a vote to replace net neutrality policies.
Canadian Context
Unlike our American neighbours, Canadians have a history of protecting net neutrality. Telecom legislation of 1993 and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) regulations from 2009 protect Canadians from bias treatment by internet providers[9]. Additionally the CRTC put in place four regulations in 2017 that further ensure net neutrality across Canada. These regulations “address practices such as managing Internet traffic to limiting speeds for some applications or creating pricing plans that ‘zero rates’ certain content that does not count as part of monthly data-consumption caps”[10]. By putting these regulations in place, the CRTC and the Canadian government, assert that Canada is a net neutral nation. While many Canadians are pleased with these pieces of legislation, the Canadian government’s decision has been publicly criticized by the Trump administration on Twitter[11].
Conclusion
While the internet remains neutral in Canada, it is important for Canadians to understand the debates happening in the US. The United States is often seen as an industry leader in terms of telecommunications and government regulations and scholars worry that should the US repeal net neutrality laws Canadian regulation will soon follow. So when you see Netflix or Facebook advocating for net neutrality, or your American friends arguing against the regulation of internet service providers, you’ll know what they’re talking about and be able to add your opinion to the mix.
Do you think Canada should remain a net neutral nation? How would a net neutrality repeal impact your internet usage? Let us know in the comments below, or join the discussion on Facebook, and Twitter
Additional Links: the New Yorker, the Guardian, John Oliver, Wired.com, Forbes, the New York Times, the Battle for the Net, the Globe and Mail (Dec 2017), the Globe and Mail (May 2017), Huffington Post
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