A plan to repeal net neutrality has recently been unveiled, and if implemented it could change the way the internet is regulated. 

Net neutrality is a rule that states that all internet providers must treat each website/database equally. Ever since it has been introduced in 2015, internet providers became barred from altering the speed of traffic on certain websites. Net neutrality has received bipartisan partisan support from American citizens. 

New FCC Chairman, Ajit Pai, recently announced his controversial plan to remove net neutrality. The proposal poses a potential threat to small start-ups; as a Wired article explains, internet giants could allow certain companies could allow some content to “bypass [their] data limits, essentially allowing [them] to pick winners and losers in those categories”. Internet companies already do this with some of their own services, but ending net neutrality could give them broader powers when giving various content data limit exemptions.

Next week, the FCC will vote on whether or not to keep net neutrality, and the outcome will affect both internet providers and website hosts.

The removal of net neutrality poses several threats to start up businesses or any website with low amounts of traffic. It might also encourage making the internet user pay more to access certain content or websites. Therefore it might mean financial loss for the consumer but a huge financial gain for internet providers. 

Micheal Beckerman, CEO of the Internet Association, argues that the repeal of net neutrality “undoes nearly two decades of bipartisan agreement on baseline net neutrality principles that protect Americans’ ability to access the entire internet.”

Net neutrality benefits are enjoyed by everyone but not many people know what it actually is. Students here at WHHS did not know what it was, but after explaining it to them they expressed strong opinions.

“Every website should be treated equally no matter how small,” said freshman  Mckenzie McFadden.

On the other hand,  another freshman, Jimmy Sokoli,  expressed a different perspective, saying, “It doesn’t really affect me, so I don’t care.”