You’d have to be crazy not to support net neutrality! How is letting internet providers cap data, steal personal information, or stop the next Netflix a good thing? The internet must remain accessible and fair, free of manipulation from internet providers.

Consumers, internet activists and the government agreed. As last mile providers of critical services, ISPs had too much power over internet access. The light touch regulation afforded internet services was not enough to keep them in line. So, the FCC, under the Obama administration, reclassified ISPs as a utility.

What is a last mile provider? They’re the companies that build and maintain connections between internet nodes and individual homes. Like gas and electric or telephone companies, ISPs would be under the same strict supervision.

Studies on the effect this type of …show more content…
But critics of net neutrality claim it’s a solution without a problem. ISPs keep in check thanks to public pressure and better infrastructure. Data caps are gone, a result of public outcry and cheaper data costs. Personal data for in-app or browser advertising occurs only with permission, an option internet companies rarely provide.

And what about offering free or preferred data rates on their own services to squeeze out competitors? Apparently, everyone forgot how the Netscape vs Microsoft case ended. Yes, that was too little too late for Netscape. But between that ruling and the European Union’s crackdown on US internet companies for monopoly abuses, don’t expect ISPs to go there.

An overlooked aspect in this debate is that there is little competition in the ISP sector. Consumer choice is a powerful tool to keep businesses in line. But building the last mile isn’t cheap. Does pre-emptive regulation mean that there is no solution to the lack of competition? One thing is for sure. With an already high cost barrier, regulation certainly dims the prospect of new