We all love to use the Internet. Whether it is to access information for academic or professional purposes, keep up with the latest events taking place across the world, or simply to catch up with friends, just about every function and activity on a day-to-day basis is dependent on, or influenced by the Internet.
As with everything of such nature, there are regulations that govern the access and use of the World Wide Web. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the organization that puts these rules forward, and unsurprisingly, there have been both positive and negative remarks surrounding the proposals. FCC chairman Tom Wheeler revealed his proposal earlier this year, and subsequently the floor was made open for individuals and organizations to comment on the matter. Being heavily invested in the matter, Comcast was sure to join in the over 3 million responses. Through the platform, the company made sure to represent themselves and their take on the matter in full detail.
What is the “Open Internet”?
The principle of the Open Internet dictates that individuals and entities are free to access the contents of the global network. To a great extent, the level of freedom being experienced now can be categorized under the term. According to the FCC website, “The Open Internet also makes it possible for anyone, anywhere to easily launch innovative applications and services, revolutionizing the way people communicate, participate, create, and do business—think of email, blogs, voice and video conferencing, streaming video, and online shopping.”
Setting the Record Straight
As the conversations surrounding the Open Internet discussion has intensified over the years, there have been some, who have staked the claim that cable companies –Comcast included – are against the whole notion. By extension, some have gone as far as to say that they want to interfere with a customer’s ability to access lawful content through the service that they provide.
To ensure that such stigma is not associated with them, the telecommunications provider went about re-emphasizing its stance to the public with a series of articles, in addition to its official comment via the FCC “forum”. One of their most reinforced bits of information was the fact that they were the only Internet service provider in the country that was fully compliant and legally bound by the Net Neutrality rules of 2010. As a result, the company has committed to permitting access to lawful content, not interfering with the speed at which web content is delivered, and ensuring that they don’t create paid fast lanes or prioritizes particular Internet traffic over another.
While not against the principle of the Open Internet, Comcast has voiced its disapproval with the reclassification of broadband as a “telecommunications service” under Title II of the Telecommunications Act. The tool is considered to be “America’s most important platform” for facilitating a wide range of development opportunities, and rightly so, when taking into account all its capabilities. Based on the reports, the company is of the belief that such a reclassification would only work to cripple aspects of the Internet such as innovation. This would in turn restrict the creation of new technology and subsequently hamper economic growth.
Instead, Comcast is fully in agreement of the Internet remaining in its “information service” classification, a classification it has held for over a decade. It could be argued that they are of the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach, which is more than understandable.
Comcast Not Alone
It should be noted that Comcast is not alone in its stance. In fact, no less than 50 organizations have also voiced their concerns and questioned the move of the FCC for the reclassification.
Number Highlights Magnitude
The number of comments that were sent to the FCC in response to their proposal indicates the vested interest of individuals across the country. The number of submissions received more than doubled the previous record number of comments on a query the entity received.
Contrary to the perceived notion of many, Comcast is not against the notion of having an open Internet, and in fact has implemented measures in their operations to ensure that they facilitate it. Though the verdict is not yet known as to what the FCC stipulations are going to be, for the time being the telecommunications provider appears to be intent on providing their Internet subscribers with the same standard of service they have delivered for the past many, many years.
Comcast’s Take on the Open Internet Debate
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