Since its inception, the Internet has been a free-flowing world with complete and equal access. But with the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, currently discussing the Internet’s future in regards to net neutrality, some students might be left wondering what changes they may see both on and off campus.
For students on campus, Internet access would stay the same regardless of the FCC’s decision.
Some Internet service providers have discussed giving Internet priority to certain websites by allowing users to access the sites faster.
The Merit Network, the Internet service provider for MSU, will not be affected no matter the FCC’s ruling, and officials said they will stick to their current philosophy.
“We’re not planning to restrict any type of traffic. We are going to continue to provide equal access,” Vice President of Membership Outreach and Engagement at the Merit Network Elwood Downing said. “We aim to promote education and research.”
The Merit Network was created by MSU, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University for use in universities around Michigan. MSU uses the Merit Network for all of its on-campus Internet access.
Despite the FCC’s pending decision not having an affect at MSU, the same cannot be said for other national Internet service providers.
Stemming from a Jan. 14 United States Court of Appeals decision on a case between Verizon and the Federal Communications Commission, the FCC must now decide how Internet service is classified.
One option is classifying Internet connections as a common carrier, which is a classification currently given to utilities like phone and electricity. This would allow the FCC to keep the Internet a level playing field.
The other option is to remove some current Internet protections, allowing so-called “fast lanes” to exist on the Internet to those who pay for them.
"(If the FCC removes these protections) the Internet as we have come to know it will not be the same in the next 25 years. That’s bad news for people who use the Internet to start a new business, blog, news service or political organization. The kind of power that the Internet gave users will be taken away,” he said.
Giving some websites priority over others would create what Karr calls a “pay for play” model, where Internet users will be able to pick and choose what websites they want quickly.
Karr said this model should especially concern students.
“If a student is looking to start a new business on the Internet, their successes will be threatened,” he said.
Karr referenced major businesses such as Facebook, which started out as a small website and transformed into a multinational organization through mostly grassroots efforts.
Not all people believe the “pay for play” model is a bad idea. Advertising senior Jaime Gnam said people who only use a few sites could benefit from this model.
“I think (we should) have the option to make those websites faster,” Gnam said. “If you are willing to pay for it, you should be able to have that premium access.”
The FCC will not make a final decision until later this year. Until then, U.S. citizens are able to file a public comment with the FCC on the issue.
