Relax: Lack of "Net Neutrality" Won't Kill the Internet

In case you didn't notice, after the FCC rolled back the 2015 regulations today, the Internet still actually worked.

You read that right. You're still actually using the Internet right now! It's hard to believe considering the doomsday rhetoric coming from, well, pretty much everyone. Nevermind that the Open Internet Order (OIO) was only 2 years old. The entire history of the Internet has been one of relative deregulation and freedom.

(Here's a quick read of the crazy that I'm talking about) https://reason.com/blog/2017/12/14/internet-goes-wild-after-fcc-net-neutral

Despite what you've heard, the Internet is not going to be gutted by some faceless corporation who only cares about squeezing as much profits out of us as possible. The Internet will remain the same, wonderful, weird, and scary place its always been. And actually, rescinding the OIO will make the Internet actually work better because network traffic can be prioritized to allow for the smoother operation for all users.

So why all of the consternation? Why is everyone I know posting about Net Neutrality and how we need to save the Internet?

The simple answer is: they have no idea how the free market works.

The 2015 Open Internet Order (or OIO) actually accomplished the opposite of what it was supposedly intended to do. Instead of preventing ISP filtering, it actually encouraged it. As long as the company told you that they were filtering, that made it ok!

I've seen a bunch of scary-looking graphics detailing how ISPs now might make you pay so much extra to access the "YouTube Package" or the "Social Media Tier" like an expensive cable package. That's bogus. Remember when we used to have to per minute and per text message for cell phone use? Nowadays, unlimited is pretty much the standard.

The fear being whipped up by politicians is to make you scared of "greedy corporations" so that you'll give more power to the bureaucrats. Don't fall for it.

To read more from people who actually know what they are talking about, have a look at this article from Reason magazine: https://reason.com/archives/2017/07/18/net-neutrality-supporters-should-actuall