Years ago, it could have been said that having the Internet was a luxury rather than a necessity. However, it has become quite apparent that the Internet is a necessity for business and individuals alike. Take into consideration the fact that in 2014, one-third of students in the U.S. used electronic devices issued by their schools (Nagel 2014). Without Internet, kids would have a hard time completing homework assignments or checking on their grades. Business owners would have a difficult time reaching out to contacts or placing necessary orders. Individuals would find it difficult to find a job in a world that now demands more online applications rather than paper ones. Therefore, it is understandable why the FCC would want to treat broadband Internet like a utility, and the proof suggests that it is even necessary.
Although net neutrality rules are in place to protect the consumer, many in the U.S. are opposed to government regulated Internet. Net neutrality in the EU, on the other hand, seemed to receive more favorable acceptance. In comparison, both the EU and the U.S. have specific rules that prohibit companies from throttling, blocking, or limiting Internet usage and traffic in favor of paid prioritization (Layton 2015). The only time a company can block, throttle, or limit usage is in the event of an emergency. The difference between the U.S. and the EU is that the EU performed an analysis and investigation regarding traffic management, whereas the FCC did not. Thanks to a far more carefully planned policy of rules and regulations, the EU seems to have a far less restricting hold over broadband companies and Internet usage.
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"Net Neutrality Argumentative Essay".
Although net neutrality is not the most ideal situation, it makes the most sense currently. Considering that consumers cannot find broadband Internet competition, it leaves the door wide open for corruption, throttling, and favoritism of paid prioritization. Whereas you might find competitors when shopping for Internet speed around 4Mbps or even 10Mbps, most U.S. residents are limited to only one provider within certain areas when seeking out a 25Mbps connection (Brodkin 2014). From Time Warner Cable to Comcast, broadband Internet seems dominated by a select few players in the field.
If competitiveness existed among the market, the need for net neutrality might eventually be unnecessary. However, it can be said that the Internet is just as much a necessity as any other utility in a home or business considering how important it now is for the operation of daily life, which essentially makes it a utility, too.
- Brodkin, J. (2014). Most of the us has no broadband competition at 25Mbps, fcc chair says. Retrieved from https://arstechnica.com
- Layton, R. (2015). US vs eu: Who’s got stricter net neutrality rules? Retrieved from http://www.techpolicydaily.com/internet/us-eu-net-neutrality-rules/
- Nagel, D. (2014). One-third of us students use school-issued mobile devices. Retrieved from https://thejournal.com
