By: Tristan Mabee
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
As of December 15, 2017, the FCC voted 3-2 to end network (net) neutrality. Net neutrality is the idea that internet service providers (ISPs) shouldn’t be allowed to slow down certain types of data based on their preferences. For example, if a certain ISP, say Comcast, wished to purposely slow down data from a service, like Netflix, net neutrality exists to stop that from happening. Furthermore, net neutrality prevents said ISP from slowing down the data speed of the consumer when accessing a site, hiding a site behind a paywall, or restricting access to a site altogether. In short, net neutrality means that a network that provides a public service can’t discriminate against information by halting, slowing, or otherwise tampering with the transfer of any data, except for legitimate network management purposes such as easing congestion or blocking spam (definition from the ACLU).