Net Neutrality: How the FCC Could Kill Call of Duty

Release Date
April 2, 2016

Topic

Free Markets and Capitalism
Description

Can the FCC slow down your internet connection to make the internet equal for everyone? Could this potentially slow down your online gaming or video streaming?

“How to Break the Internet” (article): A detailed history of net neutrality and the proposed regulatory future of the internet.
“The Feds Lost on Net Neutrality, But Won Control of the Internet” (article): By giving the FCC broad authority, the federal government has placed control of the internet in the hands of the agency and state utility commissions.
“Do Video Games Cause More Violence?” (video): A look at the statistical data behind the ongoing controversy surrounding violence in video games.

>> Do you have a shot?
>> Take the shot.
>> Yeah, we got this. What?
>> Leroy.
>> My connection froze.
>> You may see more of this now that the FCC’s regulating the Internet. I mean, they mean well, but it’ll interfere with many Internet services, it could totally up your Call of Duty.
Many Internet activists support an idea called net neutrality. Which is supposed to require companies like Comcast and Time Warner to treat all Internet traffic the same so that the Internet stays fair and open. But the FCC’s rules don’t do that. It knew forcing all traffic to be treated the same would literally break the Internet.
>> Sorry, bro, lag issues.
>> Your mom has lag issues.
>> Fair enough.
>> Internet content travels from tech companies to you. Tech companies and ISPs are like fruit vendors, they need to send out certain data quickly before it goes bad. If your Xbox data comes in even a second late, you’ll look like him.
>> Now I’m getting lag.
>> Happens to us all.
>> Well it’s about to happen to your face!
>> But other types of Internet data are like jam, there’s less of a hurry, because jam won’t go bad. This is like email or software updates, which can arrive a few seconds later without anyone noticing.
Therefore, companies have spent years developing ways to expedite the fruit when the data highways are congested with jam deliveries. The FCC is now figuring out which of its 80 years worth of telephone regulations to impose on the Internet. Under these rules, vendors will be held up by government inspectors who will slow everything down.
Now, whenever a fruit vendor wants to try out new ideas like newer, faster, cheaper ways of growing or shipping a fruit. The fruit cops can stop everything, nose around, and pile on permission slips and paperwork. The FCC’s rules are supposed to make the Internet more fair and open.
But instead, it’ll be less efficient, and trying new ideas will be harder. This could screw up just about everything you do on the Internet. There are already two federal agencies designed to protect consumers and competition. Adding a third is overkill. The Internet exploded into awesomeness once government got out of the way.
>> Those particle effects are rad.
>> Your mom’s particle effects are rad.
>> That doesn’t even make sense.
>> Fair enough.
>> Creative people can try, fail, and succeed without hundreds of rules and permission slips. Let’s return to that hands-off approach to the most important invention of all time, ever.


GET CONTENT STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX