Net neutrality

For those who haven't been keeping track, the FCC will vote on net neutrality on the 14th of December. What this vote is about is internet service providers (isp's) will change classification from a utility (such as a water company) to an information provider (like a library).

How does this affect you? In the short term, it won't. It will take time for changes to feed through. But what it means is that isp's will be allowed to charge extra for certain services, if they wanted to.

For example, you may have a 'standard' internet plan that requires you to pay extra for accessing Youtube or other streaming services. You may have a plan that allows you to access Youtube, but you won't be able to access Vimeo.

A water company can only charge you for the amount of water you use. Doesn't matter if you use it for drinking, washing the car or freezing into ice - it's your choice.

A library can't stop you coming in - but they can decide which books to keep on the shelves. They can decide what knowledge you have access to. You can put in requests for a book they don't have, but it's up to them if they get it or not (and how much they charge you).

You probably won't notice anything, except maybe the prices of internet fees creeping up. You definitely won't see all the information you will be getting blocked from. Lucky for us large corporations aren't in the habit of gouging their customers for every cent they can squeeze out of us...