What is Net Neutrality, and Why Is It Important?

 

When you hop on the Internet for work, to download a show, or to scroll through social media, you expect each site you visit to load at about the same speed. But you’ve probably never wondered why that is. It’s all thanks to an idea, a practice, and a principle of legal debate: net neutrality.

You may have heard that net neutrality is amazing, bad for business, or any combination of opinions. In this overview, we’ll cover what net neutrality means for your Internet usage, why it matters, and the state of net neutrality as it stands today.

 

What is Internet Net Neutrality?

 

Net neutrality is the practice of treating all data sent across an Internet connection equally regardless of the data’s origin or user. When Internet service providers (ISPs) follow net neutrality, they treat Internet data the same way.

Picture your Internet connection as a road with two lanes. Under a policy of net neutrality, data coming down the road can travel in either lane, and all data goes at roughly the same speed until it reaches its destination. Net neutrality is the idea that Internet data should flow as fast as a user’s Internet connection allows, without preferences or limitations to certain data types.

Net neutrality is contrasted by the idea that some types of Internet traffic should be preferred or treated differently than others. Without net neutrality, you can picture your Internet connection as a road with a "fast lane" and a "slow lane." Under this setup, certain kinds of traffic would reach your computer faster than others – potentially allowing for preferential treatment by ISPs and other side effects.

 

Why is Net Neutrality Important?

 

Net neutrality is vitally important because it ensures equal access to online data and helps to preserve fast, open, fair Internet for everyone. In a world without net neutrality, ISPs and large companies might wield outsized power and influence over data flow throughout the Internet.

For instance, you can consider a scenario where a big telecom company pays ISPs to “prefer” its traffic, such as advertisements or data packets from its website, so that visitors to its site have a smooth experience. However, this practice might (intentionally or otherwise) penalize other companies and sites, such as competitor websites that can't afford to pay for the "fast lane."

Furthermore, companies and ISPs could team up to control which information is freely available to users and which isn’t. It’s easy to imagine how this kind of power could be abused by any number of organizations and groups.

 

The History of Net Neutrality

 

Technically, the history of net neutrality extends back to the idea of “common carrier” services such as the telegram service and telephone service. In a nutshell, many people believe that essential telecommunications services shouldn't be able to discriminate between different parties. It’s the best way to facilitate a truly competitive market and the free flow of information.

Net neutrality is an extension of this principle and first became a subject of debate in the early 2000s, around when broadband Internet connections became more popular. In 2007, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) forced Comcast to stop throttling the bandwidth for customers using a particular type of file-sharing software, showing that broadband providers were not allowed to use their power to manipulate their users.

Many carriers, however, have continued to push against net neutrality over the last few decades, citing desires for increased control over their connections. Legislative battles took place in years such as 2015 and 2017, when net neutrality regulations were put into place and neutralized, respectively.

 

The Positives of Net Neutrality

 

Net neutrality is broadly seen as a good thing for the Internet and its users overall. When properly enforced, net neutrality leads to things like:

• A level playing field for ISPs and websites. No one gets any preferential treatment, so they can compete based on the merits of their services or products – a particularly big deal for small businesses!
• Greater freedom of speech and expression. Certain types of speech and expression are not blocked, slowed, or censored when net neutrality is enforced.
• Easy access to information. Net neutrality makes it difficult for organizations to censor information that they don’t like or agree with.

 

Are There Any Negatives?

 

That all said, there are a few potential downsides associated with net neutrality, such as:

• Users pay for their overall Internet service, not the data they personally consume. That means heavy data users, such as video streamers, may collectively raise the cost of broadband Internet services for everyone, even those who rarely stream video.
• It’s more difficult to block illicit or illegal content with net neutrality in place.
• Some ISPs believe that they could expand their networks faster or provide better Internet services to their users if they were able to charge more for their services.

Even with these points, most people agree that net neutrality is a net benefit for everyone involved. The pros net neutrality provides – especially in terms of information freedom and fairness – outweigh the few cons.

 

The Current State of Net Neutrality in the U.S.

 

Though net neutrality was effectively eliminated in 2017, it has returned to an enforceable principle as of April 2024, when the FCC voted to reclassify broadband Internet as a public utility like water and electricity, marking a significant victory for net neutrality advocates. This gives the government more power to regulate Internet service providers and mandate fair access and service to all users.

This is merely the next stage in the ongoing legal discussion surrounding net neutrality, its advantages and disadvantages, and whether or not it’s the best practice for the Internet going forward. New legislation, court rulings, and other developments could well change net neutrality’s status in the U.S. and around the world in the future.

 

How to Take Advantage of Net Neutrality

 

With net neutrality rules restored, Internet surfing, streaming, and more are guaranteed to be as fast as your connection allows. The only limiting factor is what kind of connection you have! With Shentel’s Internet, you can enjoy lightning-fast speeds no matter what you’re doing – and no matter how many people are in the house online at the same time.

With plans for any budget and need, Shentel delivers the Internet you deserve at the prices you want. Contact us today to learn more about our offers!

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