Net Neutrality to be revoked: what Internet users can do
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai is delivering on his promise (threat?) to block the net neutrality regulations designed to protect the equal treatment of Internet content. Pai distributed his plan to other FCC commissioners Tuesday (Nov. 21) in preparation for a Dec. 14 vote.
Net neutrality is the principle that all online data should be treated equally by Internet service providers (ISPs). Net neutrality regulations, set in 2015, ban ISPs from obstructing access to content, or from singling out some types of websites over others. Chairman Pai’s proposal, to be voted on at the FCC’s Dec. 14 meeting, would finally roll back the 2015 regulations.
“Under my proposal, the federal government will stop micromanaging the Internet,” Pai said in his statement. “Instead, the FCC would simply require Internet service providers to be transparent about their practices so that consumers can buy the service plan that’s best for them.”
According to Pai, the current net neutrality rules had been adopted to stop a purely speculative harm. However, there is a long list of the times major ISPs have abused their powers over the years - including throttling traffic, blocking access to websites or manipulating service pricing to benefit their own content.
“The repeal of net neutrality is going to make it easy for ISPs to choose their favorite websites while discriminating others by slowing their speeds. Various communications apps can also be obstructed, limiting the freedom of Internet and communication,” said Marty P. Kamden, CMO of NordVPN. “For example, if AT&T acquires Time Warner, the cancellation of the FCC’s net neutrality rules will give AT&T the power to promote its new content in countless ways. This could mean the end of the free Internet. The only solution is for people to become more proactive in defending their Internet freedom.”
In order to bypass net neutrality cancellation, Internet users can take advantage of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). VPN service allows accessing the Internet through an alternative path, bypassing ISPs and avoiding throttling and censorship. NordVPN strongly supports net neutrality and offers a product that helps preserve the Internet's freedom.
