Last week, a battle over control of the internet ended, and the Federal Communications Commission won. In this case, the FCC was on the consumer’s side in defending internet rights; all data on the internet is now treated equal.

What does this mean? Have you ever wondered if your internet service discriminated against you, giving you slower speeds because you aren’t a premium member? Last year, Comcast was accused of slowing down traffic speeds intentionally on their own networks. Why they would do that is simple: they can manipulate consumers into buying additional service, target services consumers will have slow connections on, and ultimately generate more revenue.

“[Internet services] are using their market power to try to extract arbitrary access charges, and in so doing, are degrading the service they sold to their paying broadband customers,” wrote Mark Taylor, vice president of media and content of Internet service provider company Level 3 Communications.

There are two sides to this new ruling; one consumers can agree on, and another internet providers argue. Internet service providers can no longer discriminate its consumers and certain services, but also cannot limit a user’s bandwidth usage to prevent server crashes and network congestion.

Internet service providers were also accused of attempting to elicit partnerships and fees from companies that offers services reliant on fast internet speeds, such as Netflix or Hulu. The new ruling also forbids any payments from service providers to acquire fast-lanes in their services towards consumers.

Last year, Comcast and Time Warner Cable, some of the biggest names in internet service, planned a merger that is still pending. At one point, angry opponents argued Comcast would hold a monopoly over broadband Internet connections.

“More regulation of the broadband business should give regulators more comfort that they will be able to manage Comcast going forward,” Paul Sweeney, an analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, said.

A comparison to other countries shows net neutrality is warranted. The United Kingdom and most European countries offer cheaper and faster broadband. The service is also regulated for several companies to offer equally fast internet.

The idea of net neutrality became a reality when the FCC used an old framework that also regulates the telephone network since 1934. Most internet service providers are obviously phased by the new regulations, especially AT&T.

“They are using a 1930s law to regulate the Internet of the 21st Century,” AT&T CEO Ralph de la Vega said. “We clearly think there are other choices that could have been wiser.”

Most can agree lawmakers have been looking out for consumers recently, especially with another law recently signed by President Obama to regulate phone locking to carriers.

FSA Practice Questions

1. What does the word ‘elicit’ mean?

2. What does net neutrality mean?

3. Where does net neutrality come from?

4. How does the author general feel about net neutrality?

5. What is the main idea of the piece?