2014-10-06: Corrected some typos.
I am writing my response to your form letter as a blog post because I'm not sure you will read it. So I wanted to make it publicly available to share my thoughts with those trying to educate themselves on why Net Neutrality is such an important issue. I have included a copy of the only paragraph in your response that contained any real content so others will understand the rest of the post.
"Let me be clear, I, too, am concerned with the Obama Administration’s persistent attempt to strangle every sector of our economy in red tape. Like you, I support a free and open internet. It is one of the only bright spots in our nation’s economy and the last thing I want to do is bury it in red tape. It is precisely because of the government’s light regulatory touch with respect to the internet that its growth has exploded, giving broadband access to 95% of Americans without government interference. We cannot change this now and hinder our nation’s economy."
Comcast net income for 2013: 6.8 billion dollars
Verizon net income for 2013: 11.5 billion dollars
AT&T net income for 2013: 18.25 billion dollars
Net Neutrality is actually not a new proposal being forced upon us and the network arbitrarily. In fact, it has been the defacto standard for much of the life of the Internet. It is only recently that corporations such as Verizon, AT&T and Comcast have turned to the idea of paid content discrimination as a way to sustain the astounding revenue growth they have enjoyed over the last 20 years.
Let me be clear, the current Net Neutrality debate is about preserving a key aspect of the network that has allowed the network to achieve the explosive growth you refer to in your letter. Currently the 'last mile' monopoly internet providers are actually trying to change the unspoken rules we have been operating under to pocket more of my and every other American's hard earned dollars. As a result, consumer advocacy groups and watchdogs are now calling upon the FCC to enact rules to preserve what we have all enjoyed for the last 20 years.
For those who haven't been deeply immersed in technology like I have for the last 30 years, I would like to explain the 'last mile monopoly internet provider' term. Like the old voice network that came before it, our current communications network that carries the network traffic that all of us use everyday is inherently monopolistic. The cost to build out connections to this huge country's citizens is simply too great for there to be any real competition. As such, the capitalistic system we all know and love simply breaks down. We know this, at this point in our history, that fact is undeniable.
This is why the FCC was created. To regulate an industry that is dominated by monopolies. Disagree? Google it. I just did and in less than a minute, I found the stat. At this time, most Americans (as high as 75%) have only 1 choice when it comes to broadband network access.
Frankly, I am disappointed in you and the other Republicans. This should not be a political issue. This is about what is best for Americans.. not what is best for the corporations lining our politician's pockets.
Yes, I know this happens all the time, but as you stated in your form letter, the innovation and growth stemming from the network is one area where we still lead. Why are you backing a position that will change that?
So to distill it down, as I mentioned above, Net Neutrality is about whether last mile providers should be allowed to force content providers (Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, Facebook, Pintrest, Instagram, and every other service we use) to pay for 'quality network service'. Yes many say it is about allowing them to pay for better service but think through it. Once Netflix pays for better service then Facebook gets worse, forcing them to pay to maintain an adequate user experience.. it is a vicious cycle. A cycle where in the end, we all lose. Here is why:
Once all the big providers are on board paying for access, the little guy, the next big thing can't afford to pay. Thus, they won't be the next big thing. We'll never even know they existed.
These providers will not just pony up the extra cash. Someone has to pay. That someone will be us. All companies pass on costs to the consumer. In America, we are already paying more for slower internet access than other developed nations.
Finally, I'll close with this. The internet is likely the single most important resource ever created by mankind. And neutrality is so important many other governments have already passed laws ensuring that broadband providers cannot discriminate against any given content. Your position will essentially hold us (Americans) back. Innovation will shift to those countries.. for what? So corporations like Comcast, AT&T and Verizon can put a few more billions in their pockets?
Please reconsider your position.
