The internet as we know it is under grave threat. As regular readers of BestVPN.com will know, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is planning to scrap current rules that require Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to treat all internet traffic equally.

Without these rules, ISPs can pick and choose which internet content their subscribers can access. This means that they could discriminate against websites on social, religious and political grounds. It also undermines fair competition by allowing ISPs to give preferential treatment to their own services, while putting rival services in a “slow lane” or blocking them altogether!

In reality, large internet companies such as Google and Facebook will be able to bribe ISPs not to discriminate against them. Smaller companies, and those with great ideas but which are just are finding their feet, however, could find themselves dead in the water.

Despite overwhelming support for net neutrality within the United States, the FCC has made it clear that it intends to press ahead with its plans, come hell or high water. Indeed, the FCC’s entire attitude towards mass opposition to its plans has been frankly scandalous.

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An International Problem

If you live outside the US, you may sympathize. “But,” I hear you say, “what has this got to do with me?”

It Will Damage Your Internet Experience

The problem for the rest of us is that the United States exerts huge power over the internet. In fact, 80% of all internet traffic passes through US ISPs. This means that if a service is throttled or blocked by those ISPs, website loading times will increase and we’ll experience more buffering when streaming content.

This applies no matter where in the world we are, or whether the service is based in the US.

It Will Damage International Businesses

The US market is crucial to any international company that hopes to achieve real success. As Wienke Giezeman, EU business owner and head of Start Ups for Net Neutrality, told me,

“The internet as a business platform is so beautiful because it provides a level playing field for existing and new entrants. A dream come true. Existing and new companies have to work their hardest to create the best product as a competitor is just one click away. Net neutrality is one of the mechanisms to keep this level playing field in place. Compromising this will give unfair competitive advantages to existing players which will lead to less innovation, less competition and less economic growth.”

Without free, fair and open access to their products by US citizens, smaller innovative companies will be heavily disadvantaged — regardless of where they come from. And as I’ve just noted, it’s not just US citizens who will be affected by such blocks.

Maryant Fernande-Perez from European Digital Rights (EDRi) notes that,

“Saving net neutrality again will benefit net competition, the economy and will improve how we exercise our human rights and freedoms.”

It Sets a Very Dangerous Precedent

Furthermore, where the most powerful country in the world leads, others will follow. Removing net neutrality protections leaves consumers open to rapacious profiteering from ISPs.

With such potentially huge sums of money to be made at the expense of ordinary internet users, you can be sure that ISPs in your country are slavering over the prospect of net neutrality expiring in America with all the predatory anticipation of vultures watching a dying animal!

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The World for Net Neutrality

Fight for the Future (FFTF) led the campaign to encourage US citizens to register their views on net neutrality with the FCC. It was a very successful campaign, and nearly 22 million Americans participated.

Despite spambots also flooding the boards with pro-net neutrality comments, the huge majority of comments opposed the FCC’s new rule changes. It is now too late for Americans to comment further on the proposed changes, and the FCC has made it blatantly clear that it has no intention of listening to them anyway.

This has prompted a growing network of international companies and organizations to weigh in. If the FCC won’t listen to US citizens, then maybe it will listen to businesses based outside the US. To this end, they have drafted an open letter in defense of net neutrality, and are urging other non-US companies and organizations to sign it. Organizations who wish to join the initiative itself are also encouraged to do so.

Backed by the likes of European Digital Rights (EDRi), Startups for Net Neutrality, and Dutch search engine StartPage.com, it is certainly worth a try! EDRi’s Maryant Fernande-Perez comments,

“US leadership was crucial in inspiring EU policy-makers to protect net neutrality in Europe. This letter gives Europeans the opportunity to return the favour. Signing the letter would not only be an act of solidarity; it will also be a step towards ensuring the internet remains a global, open and non-discriminatory network.”

The letter is due to be submitted to the FCC on Tuesday 26 September 2017. The more signatures it gets, the better. If you’re in a position to sign for your non-US company or organization (or can convince someone else who is), please do so now!

The internet belongs to us all. It is not up to the United States FCC to wreck it!

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Image credit: By Toria/Shutterstock.com