Net Neutrality: The Reality
On December 14, the FCC will vote to change the net as we know it. But has the open internet already been destroyed?
On December 14th, the Federal Communications Commission will vote on whether to remove Net Neutrality rules installed during the Obama administration.
This vote, spearheaded by FCC chairman and Trump appointee Ajit Pai, will pass.
Don’t get me wrong; like every other responsible person I have been calling the FCC, sending furious emails to the commissioners, grinding my teeth, and weeping over my decades-old DeviantArt account in preparation for this vote. But. It’s gonna pass.
Five FCC commissioners will be voting on this policy change. The two Democrats, Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel, are longstanding Net Neutrality proponents and committed “no” votes. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is a Republican and former lawyer for Verizon, who’s been gunning for net neutrality since before the “Can you hear me now?” guy from the Verizon commercials was just a glimmer in his parents’ gonads.
Then there’s the other two commissioners. Michael O’Rielly co-wrote an anti-Net-Neutrality article in November— alongside Ted Cruz, who definitely hates the internet for broadcasting his porn viewing history, and who still…