Whether we’re at work, at home, or anywhere in between, it’s something many of us use every day. An upcoming vote by the FCC could affect your internet access.
“Net neutrality” is a set of rules from 2015 to ensure internet providers handle all the content on the internet the same way. But the chairman of the FCC wants to make a change. Travis Adney, digital strategist at Lawrence & Schiller in Sioux Falls, says a repeal seems to be on the horizon.
“It’s starting to look that way, yeah, and that’s why we’re starting to see a lot more attention coming to the forefront,” Adney said.
He’s not alone in thinking a repeal is coming.
“Everyone predicts that the rules will be repealed on December 14th by a three to two vote,” Dan Nelson, director of governmental affairs with Midco, said.
If that happens, internet service providers could change what you pay and the speed you download content.
“They could put different pricing structures, they could throttle internet, either up or down,” Adney said. “Some use the expressions of almost like traffic. So, fast lanes and slow lanes, and maybe tolls, and things like that.”
Adney says different changes are possible.
“There’s a lot of talk about bundling different services so your social apps, and your communication apps, as well as your streamings or your Netflix and Hulu and things like that, and so, you may see a difference in pricing structures,” Adney said.
While Adney didn’t want to say what he hopes to see happen, Nelson says that Midco wants the rules repealed. But he says that some things won’t be different.
“The way we deal with our customers, and the way we manage your network traffic is transparent, and it won’t change,” Nelson said.
The vote on net neutrality by the five FCC commissioners is set to take place on December 14th.
