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Net Neutrality: Internet Service Providers

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Net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers (ISPs) should allow all consumers access to content and applications on an equal basis, without showing favor to a source or blocking certain content, applications and even websites. This concept is sometimes referred to as “open internet”. For example, an ISP should be prohibited from slowing down streaming content such as Netflix to your TV, simply because it is being provided by a competing company. As a consumer of such content, we are stuck in the middle of this battle between ISPs and content providers. Among the content providers that support net neutrality are Apple, Google, Netflix, and Hulu. On the opposing side, we have major ISPs such as AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and Time warner cable. Without net neutrality laws and regulation, ISPs could be free to charge extra fees to content companies and essentially us as consumers of that content. …show more content…

While under the current Trump administration, a rollback in the neutrality ruling is very real. President Trump appointed FCC’s Chairman Ajit Pai, who has publicly expressed his disagreement with the 2015 ruling. Chairman Pai believes this regulation is an unnecessary government intervention. Recently Chairman Pai has passed two actions that are intended to relieve pricing restrictions on ISPs and give TV companies greater freedom to grow through mergers. His current plan is to weaken and unravel aspects of the net neutrality rules and provide relief to ISP

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