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[Pattycakes]

The last push for net neutrality begins on July 12th with the Internet-Wide Day of Action to Save Net Neutrality. The first comment deadline is on July 17th! This thread is for discussion of the day and the news that surrounds it.

What is net neutrality?

Net neutrality is the basic principle that protects our free speech on the Internet. "Title II" of the Communications Act is what provides the legal foundation for net neutrality and prevents Internet Service Providers like Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T from slowing down and blocking websites, or charging apps and sites extra fees to reach an audience (which they then pass along to consumers.)

Why is net neutrality important?

The Internet has thrived precisely because of net neutrality. It's what makes it so vibrant and innovative—a place for creativity, free expression, and exchange of ideas. Without net neutrality, the Internet will become more like Cable TV, where the content you see is what your provider puts in front of you. Do you really want the internet to look like this?

What will happen on July 12th?

Websites, Internet users, and online communities will come together to sound the alarm about the FCC’s attack on net neutrality. We'll provide tools for everyone to make it super easy for your followers / visitors to take action. From the SOPA blackout to the Internet Slowdown, we've shown time and time again that when the Internet comes together, we can stop censorship and corruption. Now, we have to do it again!

Here's a list of some of the notable companies participating. You can find a full list here. Google and Facebook are also stated to be participating.

Amazon (& Twitch)
Kickstarter
Etsy
Netflix
Twitter
Vimeo
GitHub
Private Internet Access
Reddit
Pornhub
okcupid
moz://a
ACLU
AdBlock
airbnb
Discod
Deviant Art
Dropbox
Spotify

Still not convinced? Watch these videos.

TotalBiscuit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K88BU3kjZ-c&feature=youtu.be (I've not watched it yet, but it's on the frontpage of reddit)


Last Week Tonight Saga;

Net Neutrality back in 2014; The Human Dingo

Net Neutrality update; Go FFC yourself

Net Neutrality 2; Taylor Swift songs by Goats


If we fuck this up, we're giving so much power to the ISPs, that upstart businesses, and people with less access to capital will be stacked against them. It will affect non-profits, innovation, competition and just disenfranchise voices from being heard.

This is a massive massive threat the democratic internet.

How can I help?

Go to https://www.battleforthenet.com and fill out the form to send a letter to the FCC and your leaders in Congress to show your support for net neutrality. It literally takes less than five minutes of your time to help save the internet.

 

[super-famicom]

Thanks for the thread. I went to the site and sent the letter.

 

[jb1234]

This thread really needs more attention.

 

[Yoshimitsu126]

Noted thanks!

 

[RedToad64]

Awesome. Let's spread the word and keep the internet in our hands!

 

[uncelestial]

Wonder why some major companies aren't "going black" this time? Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook: looking at you.

 

[Frozenprince]

Wonder why some major companies aren't "going black" this time? Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook: looking at you.

They know it'll actually die this time so they don't need to do it to save face.

 

[SodiumBenzoate]

Twitch is participating

 

[draetenth]

Thanks for the notice!

 

[Septimus Prime]

Wonder why some major companies aren't "going black" this time? Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook: looking at you.

Because those companies are the entrenched incumbents that would actually benefit from a non-neutral network. Small, plucky upstart getting annoying? They have the money to pay for priority and shut that shit down.

I think it's really funny that AT&T is trying to join in on this, too, when they are one of the ones pushing to overturn Title II.

 

[Slater]

They know it'll actually die this time so they don't need to do it to save face.

Because those companies are the entrenched incumbents that would actually benefit from a non-neutral network. Small, plucky upstart getting annoying? They have the money to pay for priority and shut that shit down.

I think it's really funny that AT&T is trying to join in on this, too, when they are one of the ones pushing to overturn Title II.

http://www.newsheads.in/tech/news/g...trality-campaign-us-july-12/article/6989.html

 

[Babymario26]

Because those companies are the entrenched incumbents that would actually benefit from a non-neutral network. Small, plucky upstart getting annoying? They have the money to pay for priority and shut that shit down.

I think it's really funny that AT&T is trying to join in on this, too, when they are one of the ones pushing to overturn Title II.

I thought that it was verizon that was trying to do that.

 

[Septimus Prime]

http://www.newsheads.in/tech/news/g...trality-campaign-us-july-12/article/6989.html

Great news!

I thought that it was verizon that was trying to do that.

AT&T: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy...test-despite-suing-to-block-neutrality-rules/

 

[LumpOfCole]

I think people are afraid of the wrong things happening. The biggest issue won't be throttling or 'channel packages', but data caps. More American ISPs are beginning to chase the cell phone model of data caps. Net Neutrality ending will start to result in a T-Mobile-like 'Binge On' partnerships pushed to new extremes.

Data Caps will be become more widespread and restrictive over the next few years, especially as 4K becomes more prevalent. It'll be terrible for consumers and increasingly expensive for partners who want their data to "not count against the cap". It won't just be video streaming services vying for these partnerships either.

Steam and Origin will have to choose whether to pony up that partnership dough, or risk giving up marketshare to competitors who offer multi-gigabyte game downloads while "not counting against the cap." I imagine VPN services and cloud-based file sharing services like Dropbox will have the same choices. Smaller services won't be able to play ball of course, and will be forced to cede more marketshare to big name competitors.

Being worried about throttling and 'channel packages' seems like a very 2010 thing to be concerned about. It's really the Data Cap model that will exemplify what the fall of Net Neutrality will do to the internet.

 

[Rebel Leader]

Twitch is participating

Neat

 

[Iadien]

I noticed that some subreddits have changed their pages to bring attention to this as well. Hopefully it pays off.

 

[WillyFive]

I think people are afraid of the wrong things happening. The biggest issue won't be throttling or 'channel packages', but data caps. More American ISPs are beginning to chase the cell phone model of data caps. Net Neutrality ending will start to result in a T-Mobile-like 'Binge On' partnerships pushed to new extremes.

Data Caps will be become more widespread and restrictive over the next few years, especially as 4K becomes more prevalent. It'll be terrible for consumers and increasingly expensive for partners who want their data to "not count against the cap". It won't just be video streaming services vying for these partnerships either.

Steam and Origin will have to choose whether to pony up that partnership dough, or risk giving up marketshare to competitors who offer multi-gigabyte game downloads while "not counting against the cap." I imagine VPN services and cloud-based file sharing services like Dropbox will have the same choices. Smaller services won't be able to play ball of course, and will be forced to cede more marketshare to big name competitors.

Being worried about throttling and 'channel packages' seems like a very 2010 thing to be concerned about. It's really the Data Cap model that will exemplify what the fall of Net Neutrality will do to the internet.

Yep. Data caps are the last weapon the big ISPs have to keep their old business models from being devoured by the internet.

 

[Sabercrusader]

Sent my letter. I want to do my part. The Internet is now a basic utility, not a convenience or a privilege.

 

[ShadowSwordmaster]

I will do the same.

 

[Septimus Prime]

I think people are afraid of the wrong things happening. The biggest issue won't be throttling or 'channel packages', but data caps. More American ISPs are beginning to chase the cell phone model of data caps. Net Neutrality ending will start to result in a T-Mobile-like 'Binge On' partnerships pushed to new extremes.

Data Caps will be become more widespread and restrictive over the next few years, especially as 4K becomes more prevalent. It'll be terrible for consumers and increasingly expensive for partners who want their data to "not count against the cap". It won't just be video streaming services vying for these partnerships either.

Steam and Origin will have to choose whether to pony up that partnership dough, or risk giving up marketshare to competitors who offer multi-gigabyte game downloads while "not counting against the cap." I imagine VPN services and cloud-based file sharing services like Dropbox will have the same choices. Smaller services won't be able to play ball of course, and will be forced to cede more marketshare to big name competitors.

Being worried about throttling and 'channel packages' seems like a very 2010 thing to be concerned about. It's really the Data Cap model that will exemplify what the fall of Net Neutrality will do to the internet.

The scary thing is that they won't even need data caps, honestly. All they'd have to do is offer priority access lanes, where some services are faster than others (where "faster" means less/not throttled), and that'll nudge users to prefer those services, who then have to pay the ISPs more to retain their dominance.

 

[neptunes]

The scary thing is that they won't even need data caps, honestly. All they'd have to do is offer priority access lanes, where some services are faster than others (where "faster" means less/not throttled), and that'll nudge users to prefer those services, who then have to pay the ISPs more to retain their dominance.

I think consumers would notice the difference in quality between websites and services. ISPs would actually have explain why certain sites have priority over others.

 

[EdibleKnife]

This needs to stay on the front page

 

[Isotropy]

One of the most under-recognised threats to the world

 

[LCGeek]

I think consumers would notice the difference in quality between websites and services. ISPs would actually have explain why certain sites have priority over others.

They never will and considering most consumers have never held their feet to the fire over differentiated services or asymeterical bandwidth being a bullshit concept I doubt it would matter.

One concept is why we have massive priority and latency problems. The other is them trying to make quick buck and fucking everyone in the process.

 

[Pattycakes]

Twitch is participating

Amazon owns Twitch, so it makes sense Twitch is participating, but I added Twitch to the list.

 

[bigmit3737]

Disappointing that google and facebook aren't participating .

 

[Slater]

Disappointing that google and facebook aren't participating .

http://www.newsheads.in/tech/news/g...trality-campaign-us-july-12/article/6989.html

 

[ShadowSwordmaster]

http://www.newsheads.in/tech/news/g...trality-campaign-us-july-12/article/6989.html

Disappointing that google and facebook aren't participating .

?

 

[Slater]

?

They are, just some people not aware

 

[Pattycakes]

They are, just some people not aware

They're not on the original list, but I added a note next to the list and a link to the web article to help clear up the confusion.

 

[thefragrance]

I was looking for the enraging mockup that looks like an infographic of the different internet plans without neutrality but couldnt find it.

 

[Pattycakes]

I was looking for the enraging mockup that looks like an infographic of the different internet plans without neutrality but couldnt find it.

 

[ShadowSwordmaster]

They're not on the original list, but I added a note next to the list and a link to the web article to help clear up the confusion.

Thanks.

 

[Toxi]

This is important shit

 

[thefragrance]

Clenching my fists

 

[Cabbagehead]

LETS GO!

 

[NintendosBooger]

Nm

 

[undrtakr900]

This thread really needs more attention.

I know, the apathy is alarming....or maybe many people still aren't aware how serious this is. Hopefully the blackOut day will educate more people to take action.

 

[Kthulhu]

Filled out the form and shared the link on my social media. Hopefully the FCC actually listens.

 

[Maximus.]

Such bullshit that this is a discussion again, when it was already open to the public and won support for what it is currently. Stupid fucking Republicans.

 

[Rice-Eater]

Sent my letter. I want to do my part. The Internet is now a basic utility, not a convenience or a privilege.

I couldn't think of anything to say and just reworded your own words. it kind of sums up what I wanted to say.

 

[Rice-Eater]

WTF is with all these people saying "The unprecedented regulatory power the Obama..blah blah blah"? Bots? Easy copy and paste for a bunch of crazies? Or am I misunderstanding the message?

 

[BBboy20]

I couldn't think of anything to say and just reworded your own words. it kind of sums up what I wanted to say.

How the internet is physically shared right now is practically like a concentrated resource.

 

[Darkman M]

Done, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

 

[pswii60]

This makes me depressed.

 

[RedToad64]

WTF is with all these people saying "The unprecedented regulatory power the Obama..blah blah blah"? Bots? Easy copy and paste for a bunch of crazies? Or am I misunderstanding the message?

Check out this recent thread:
Comcast/others submitting false FCC User Comments on Net Neutrality

Its really disgusting to see what these companies are trying to do.

 

[Bluth54]

This makes me depressed.

It probably wont happen that way, ISPs probably wont charge you extra for different sites (maybe for going beyond the data cap). My guess is ISPs will make services like Amazon or Netflix or Steam pay extra to not have their traffic slowed down, forcing those sorts of services to charge customers more.

 

[Hackworth]

Real talk, as some chump from NZ, how much influence do I have on dumb bullshit pulled by the USA's FCC?

 

[samoscratch]

Call today please people this is so important.

 

[Cow Mengde]

I know, the apathy is alarming....or maybe many people still aren't aware how serious this is. Hopefully the blackOut day will educate more people to take action.

Hilarious that people want an all digital future. 100GB game downloads baby!