Net neutrality is not just a concept – it's a crucial safeguard for our online lives. When the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) repealed net neutrality regulations in 2017, many thought it was the end of the open internet as we knew it. But, Washington state has proven that even in the face of bureaucratic opposition, the power of the people can prevail.
A New Era for Net Neutrality
In a bold move, Washington state became the first to enact its own strong law ensuring an open internet, despite fierce opposition from telecom lobbyists. The bill sailed through the state legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support, paving the way for similar bills in dozens of other states. Meanwhile, major tech companies like Etsy and Kickstarter have joined public interest groups, taking the FCC to court to fight for net neutrality.
The Future of Fitness App Development
Without strong net neutrality protections, internet service providers (ISPs) like Verizon, Comcast, and AT&T could control what we can see and do online. This would mean censorship, speed-throttling, and new fees to access content – a nightmare scenario for fitness enthusiasts relying on apps like Peloton or Nike Training Club.
The Fight Against Ajit Pai's Decision
Ajit Pai, the former Verizon lawyer in charge of the FCC, ignored the voices of tech experts and millions of people from across the political spectrum. Instead, he based his rulemaking on debunked studies funded by the telecom industry. His agency was also caught ignoring serious issues of fraud with the public comment process, despite 98 percent of unique comments submitted opposing his plan.
The Battle for Net Neutrality Continues
While big ISPs have deep pockets to spend on expensive lawyers, internet users and small businesses could be left without any net neutrality protections in as little as two months. Without rules to prevent abuse, ISPs would have the power to decide where you get your news, how you listen to music and stream video, and which apps you use.
The Power of Public Interest Groups
Major players have been documented throttling users' connections when they chose a rival gaming service, prevented pro-choice text messages, and even blocked tethering and FaceTime. Meanwhile, the largest internet companies like Facebook and Google will gain even more power to manipulate the free flow of information, as they'll be able to afford to pay the likes of Comcast and Verizon for access to their customers.
The Path Forward
Fortunately, the overwhelming backlash against the FCC's decision is having an impact in Washington D.C. As well. Last week, the Senate and House introduced Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions that, if passed, would completely overturn Ajit Pai's order and reinstate the legal framework for basic net neutrality principles.
A Victory for the People
If the CRA on this issue passes in the Senate, it will be a huge victory for the public and a humiliating defeat for Ajit Pai and his lobbyist friends. Then we'll take the fight to the House of Representatives, where we'll need to flip about 25 Republicans to hit the 218 votes needed to win. Finally, the CRA would have to go to the White House to be signed. No one can predict what will happen there but even GOP FCC Commissioner O'Rielly told Politico that he was unsure whether Trump would veto the CRA if Republicans started to support it.
Getting the CRA resolutions passed won't be easy, but if internet users come together to fight, victory is well within reach. As Washington state just showed, net neutrality is not a partisan issue outside of Washington D.C. More than 83 percent of voters from across the political spectrum, including three out of four Republicans, oppose the FCC's plan to hand cable companies control of the Internet.
So there's no time to mourn: Net neutrality is too important to the future of free expression and democracy to give up now. We can't just advocate for it – we have to win the fight.