“Why do you need Net Neutrality?”

That’s a question a lot of people are asking, and with good reason. Most average internet users have only a hazy impression of what “net neutrality” is or why it’s so important. To help us understand net neutrality and the effect recent regulation changes have on the way we use and access the internet better, here are some helpful facts about net neutrality and what it means now that it’s been removed.

The FCC’s Repeal of Net Neutrality

News of the FCC’s plan to loosen regulations and reverse net neutrality brought a renewed surge of debate over how we regulate the internet and who should control how it’s used. Critical changes to classifications and the ability to enforce regulations raised alarms for many users who rely on easy, unrestricted access to the internet. Small businesses and new startups severely impacted by rising costs and less website traffic also voiced concern. The FCC’s 3-to-2 majority for repealing net neutrality, however, went through last month despite the incredible outcry from internet users all over the United States. Here’s a look at three of the critical reversals passed by the FCC:

Repeal of Title-II Classification:

One of the crucial components to ensuring net neutrality was the FCC’s 2015 classification for ISP (Internet Service Providers) as a public utility under Title-II of the Communications Act of 1934. This regulation required ISP’s to provide equal and fair treatment to all customers and their access to content.

Throttling Website Content/Streaming Ability:

Under Title-II public utility classification and the FCC’s antitrust laws and anti-competition rules, broadband cable and telecom companies like Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T were kept from throttling, blocking, or slowing Internet content and streaming services for websites and users. The FCC’s new plan, proposed by FCC chair Amit Pai, removed Title-II classification and reinstated its previous Title-I classification as an information service. This allows telecommunication and cable providers to charge more for certain services as well as prevent or slow access to their competitor’s sites provided they are upfront with customers about their policies.

Higher Costs:

By giving cable and telecom conglomerates control over the use and access to the internet, companies are free to charge more for “high quality” streaming and other services, to block or slow access to competitors sites, and to raise prices too high for startups to afford, relegating them instead to a slower-tiered, less-reliable connection. This also raises the cost of other companies’ services since they’re forced to pay more for access to the ISP, and also limits users access to public sites like libraries, public utilities, or government websites. We’re likely to see the creation of new service bundles similar to cable packages we have now with little choice or control over what’s included in the internet “bundles” we’re given to chose.

Help Substratum Bring Back Net Neutrality

These are just a few examples of what may be in store for internet users. Follow us here, and on social, if you’re concerned about protecting your internet access and support internet use that is open and unrestricted for everyone to use.