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?

“Another Sky” by Anne Patterson; photograph by author

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 hasn’t forgiven Tumblr for uncovering his political origins as the Zodiac Killer. The final Commissioner, Brendan Carr, has made numerous appearances on C-SPAN, celebrating the overturning of Net Neutrality. He gleefully retweets all the hate he gets on this issue.

It’s that final piece that has me convinced that no amount of emailing, calling, tweeting, or petitioning will sway the FCC’s three Republican votes. Conservative nerds are not like Trump. They don’t buckle under the slightest suggestion of rejection. They’ve been rejected for being an awkward asshole every day of their lives since they first hit on a girl at a debate competition.

In interviews, Carr and O’Rielly are easygoing, convinced that the public is misguided in its rage. They’re gonna vote yes, and so…