In regards to the net neutrality decision, I stand with the dissenting opinion of Judge Stephen Williams, and I believe the FCC has “acted arbitrarily and capriciously” upon reclassifying broadband. This ruling was made to treat the internet as a utility, which means increased taxes and rate hikes. The court equated broadband with telephone, which is an outdated idea.
The court has given the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) a blank check to set any regulations they see fit, leaving them open to write any rule they wish to reshape our freedom-loving internet. Some are thrilled by the decision, as it will finally make the internet “fair,” but the internet is not unfair. Let’s be serious — this wasn’t ever about broadband and the speed at which internet services are delivered. This is about our First Amendment rights, internet content and our free access to information.
The FCC has stated they would like to regulate our privacy and cyber security in an effort to make us safer. Restricting our First Amendment rights will not make us safer. With a restricted internet, we run the risk of predetermined winners and losers with less ability to experiment with what works in a new internet business. There will be no more companies started in dorm rooms and garages. Instead, you would need to be deemed worthy to start your next business idea.
Content control has been discussed as part of the goal of fairness, but if we are always looking at one side of a coin, we risk the loss of critical dialogue and deep analysis. In a recent study by the Media Insight Project, Americans were asked whether or not they trusted media, and a mere 6 percent said they did. This is why we need an open and unrestricted internet at a time when an international board or “global community” will govern the internet instead of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). I find the majority opinion of the court concerning, as putting the freedom to rewrite all rules in the FCC hands could lead to a complicated and controlled future.
Max States