NAME : NAAFILAH WIDYA MULYA

CLASS : 1 D3 T. ELEKTRO INDUSTRI A

NRP : 1303171007

Whose Internet Is It?

A guide to the Net – neutrality word wars

Everyone in Washington seems to be promising American web users an

“open internet” lately. After President Barack Obama called for the strictest tools
available to prohibit Internet service providers (ISPs) from creating “fast lanes”
and “slow lanes” for different content, Federal communications commision
chairman Tom Wheeler didn’t miss a beat. The fact is that Obama, Republicans,
the FCC, Silicon valey and cable providers are all preparing for a major
showdown over the rules that dictate how internet is delivered to our house.

Net Neutrality is the principle that ISPs should treat all web traffic the
same and not block or slow certain data streams for any reason. Many argue that
enforcing Net neutrality is even more important now that big ISPs also own
content companies. For many tech companies and activists, Net neutrality also
means that ISPs should not collect fees from web companies in exchange for
delivering their content faster to Internet customers.

In May, the FCC proposed new rules that prohibited ISPs from blocking or
slowing legal Internet traffic, but it did not ban paid prioritizion and it also
preserved. The fees ISPs collect from big content producers, like Netflix, that pay
to connect directly to the back end of their networks and reach consumers more
quickly. Most of silicon valley disagree and a deep pocketed coaltion of tech
companies, inlcuding giants like Google and Facebook, want rules barring ISPs
from collecting payment from web companies at all.

Obama campaigned in 2008 on a promise to enforce Net neutrality but

mostly avoided the controversy until recently. By slamming the FCC’s proposed
rules and calling for the independent agency, the president transformed a wonky
teleceom fight into a public showdown. In addtion to preventing fast lanes,
Obama wants to reclassify consumer broadband.

So the FCC could vote early next year to finalize its proposed open –
internet rules, which do not ban paid prioritization or deal with back – end fees
paid by companies. Republican lawmakers argue that any Net neutrality rules
would gum up the free market online. According to wheelers, 80% of Americans
with access to high – speed broadband. With powerful interests on both sides of
the debate, the battle won’t be over anytime soon.