Dozens of tech companies and advocacy groups across the Web joined forces Wednesday and “slowed down” their websites to support net neutrality, just days before the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) takes steps to finalize its latest proposal, which could end up costing customers more for reliable Internet access.
Netflix, Reddit, WordPress, Vimeo and Kickstarter are among the nearly 70 sites that displayed a Web page loading symbol to simulate what surfing a net neutrality-free Web will be like if access to some sites was prioritized over others.
Wednesday’s protest won’t actually prohibit people from loading sites at normal speeds, but instead will prompt users who click on the spinning icon to take action and contact lawmakers.
The protest is the latest public outcry over the FCC’s proposed rules, which could allow Internet service providers to create more expensive “fast lanes.” The “Internet Slowdown” protest follows in the same track as other online protests led by big name tech companies, notably the Internet blackout in 2012 protesting the Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Act (SOPA-PIPA). That protest ultimately caused Congress to kill the controversial bills that threatened online speech. Pro-net neutrality and anti-surveillance protests since, such as “Reset the Net” and “The Day We Fight Back” asked participants display a banner of support. While these rallies were modeled after SOPA’s success, but have largely fallen flat.
The FCC invited the public to comment on the “fast lane” rules over the summer, but protests have struggled to engage more people. Only 43 percent of Americans actually know what net neutrality — the idea that all traffic on the Internet should be treated equally — is, according to a Google Consumer Survey. While many Americans aren’t sure what net neutrality means, those who do overwhelmingly support it. Moreover, less than 1 percent of the 800,000 public comments sent to the FCC clearly oppose net neutrality, according to a Sunlight Foundation analysis.
The FCC will begin finalizing its net neutrality proposal Sept. 15, when it officially closes public comments on the issue. The FCC received a massive number of comments on its proposals, which crashed the agency’s servers in July.
As drafted, the FCC’s rules would allow broadband companies to make websites and services pay extra for faster, more reliable access. Those that don’t pay for the faster access could lose traffic and a competitive edge from being unable to keep up. Critics of the FCC’s proposal say the prospective regulations for ISPs would be fairly lax, and incentivize companies such as Verizon, Comcast and potentially other wireless networks, to throttle customers’ Web access for profit.
Tech companies and Congress members have pleaded with the FCC to change its proposals and instate stricter regulations for ISPs. In May, Google, Microsoft and Amazon penned an open letter to the FCC condemning its proposals, saying that the new rules would stifle innovation and free speech online. House minority leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) recently called on FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to reclassify the Internet as a utility, echoing the chants of net neutrality advocates. That move would mean tighter regulations for broadband providers and theoretically prevent fast access deals with websites and mobile apps.
To counteract public concerns, some broadband companies contend the absence of net neutrality wouldn’t change much for customers. Others, such as AT&T;, have vowed to uphold the traditional net neutrality rules that a federal judge tossed out earlier this year. During its announcement that it would buy satellite TV company DirectTV, AT&T; said it wouldn’t restrict Internet access in any way for the next three years, regardless of the FCC’s final decision.