"Net neutrality" will be the law of the land following the Federal Communications Commission's vote to reclassify broadband Internet services as public utilities. Please take some time this week to thank the outspoken citizens who made this possible. These heroes of the open Internet are regular folk, just like you…
The open internet finally got the protection it deserves from profit-hungry cable companies. The FCC just approved the strongest set of net neutrality rules in this country's history, punctuating a years-long battle for this future of the internet. However, the war's not yet over.
Thanksgiving is almost here, and that means turkey, mashed potatoes, and getting peppered with questions about tech-related news stories because hey, you read a bunch of blogs and you even know what a yik-yak is! It's only a matter of time before they ask you "So what's up with that thing on the internets?"
Minutes after President Obama unveiled his plan for net neutrality yesterday, Republicans leaders like Ted Cruz came out swinging. You can chalk up the backlash to more than just partisan spite; Cruz has taken his share of campaign money from telecom giants. And he's far from the exception.
Good news, America. Our president, Barack Obama, is finally standing up for the internet, and asking the FCC to classify it as a public utility. In other words, he's asking the agency not to allow destructive things like fast lanes (a.k.a. paid prioritization) or throttling. It's a great day!
Tim Wu is a busy man. When he's not teaching law at Columbia or writing for The New Yorker, he's testifying before Congress about the FCC proposed net neutrality. And as of last month, Wu is running for lieutenant governor of New York State. Busy might not be the right term, actually. Tim Wu is brimming with purpose.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--SGrid6FJ--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_center,h_358,q_80,w_636/vncyyuxfassznal4imbq.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--BRO6EWsX--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_center,h_180,q_80,w_320/vncyyuxfassznal4imbq.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--nz3fMuBv--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_center,h_77,q_80,w_137/vncyyuxfassznal4imbq.jpg, (large)])
Yesterday on Last Week Tonight, John Oliver gave an excellent explanation of why you shouldn't trust Comcast, no matter what they say. He also realized that the solution to the problem resides in the comments sections of every website on the internet.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--GVgeiKUL--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/fscc8f6cqnvgwk0rc2up.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--XVDPDnlH--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/fscc8f6cqnvgwk0rc2up.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Uz2l5Q1E--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/fscc8f6cqnvgwk0rc2up.jpg, (large)])
Earlier this month, the FCC voted in favor of a pretty thoroughly terrible proposal that would kill net neutrality as we know it. A proposal that would give broadband companies an absurd amount of powers that they themselves delineated. And a proposal that would give Verizon (and broadband carriers in general) the…
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Q_9a5vvX--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/kdhpbzi3nqpzlaagsy7t.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--RN4ilTPp--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/kdhpbzi3nqpzlaagsy7t.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--LvLdSHIL--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/kdhpbzi3nqpzlaagsy7t.jpg, (large)])
Just a few days ago, the FCC voted in favor of a pretty uniformly terrible proposal to allow internet fast lanes. And throughout the 99-page proposition, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler makes one thing painfully apparent: The FCC thinks we're all a bunch of goddamn idiots.
The Internet is in danger, everyone. That sounds like kind of a silly thing to say, but it's true. While not yet set in stone, the FCC has made disconcerting plans to allow companies to divide this beautiful web of ours into potentially expensive tiers. Gaming stands to take a massive hit too. Here's why.
Right now, American gamers have it good. Our internet providers might do some slimy things, but today we can access all the web has to offer without maxing out our credit cards.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--nw5TZdt9--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/bzylz8cvygnj7ogmzqbp.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--dhh0PApz--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/bzylz8cvygnj7ogmzqbp.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Nk8v2vGv--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/bzylz8cvygnj7ogmzqbp.jpg, (large)])
Initial reports about the FCC's hotly anticipated net neutrality rules are out, and they are foreboding. While they'll prevent broadband providers from blocking legal content on the internet, it does not explicitly ban companies from paying for better service. While that's bad for net neutrality, it's not entirely a…
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--3kds6Lcd--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/19glh08mh1it9jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--nyBIqU1a--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/19glh08mh1it9jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--i-3BNkc6--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/19glh08mh1it9jpg.jpg, (large)])
The Wall Street Journal reports that Netflix and Comcast—the company that just bought up Time Warner Cable, remember—reached a landmark deal with potentially serious ramifications for net neutrality. Basically, Netflix is going to pay Comcast for more direct access to its network.
After last week's court decision striking down the Federal Communication Commission's net neutrality rule, it is worth taking a moment to remember that a world without net neutrality—the principle that the company that connects you to the internet does not get to control what you do on the internet — is a world that…
Live in the United States? Enjoy being able to stream and browse the Internet to your cold little heart's content? Don't want your Internet costs to go up? It's time to start thinking about what could be one of this generation's biggest issues for gamers: net neutrality.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--mapGelTh--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j3r3nkfk1s3jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--FAEIqXFS--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j3r3nkfk1s3jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--9gHQBZVO--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j3r3nkfk1s3jpg.jpg, (large)])
After years of throttled internet and bad customer service earning it a reputation as the worst internet provider in America, Comcast scores a golden poo as Consumerist.com's 2010 Worst Company in America. I promised myself I wouldn't cry.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--97t55Qj0--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j3th5ki4if5jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--UU5oH7ek--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j3th5ki4if5jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--zoFE0tUX--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j3th5ki4if5jpg.jpg, (large)])
We've heard the term 'net neutrality' bandied about the internet for more than a decade, yet many gamers aren't aware of how important the concept is to their continued online entertainment. Why should you care about net neutrality?
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--a8ZGxmWu--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j3tny8cl8u7jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s---VqU5tl_--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j3tny8cl8u7jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--dJ4kadAf--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j3tny8cl8u7jpg.jpg, (large)])
Comcast customers have reason to be nervous today, as a federal appeals court rules that the Federal Communications Commission doesn't have the authority to enforce Net Neutrality on internet providers.
