APRIL 2014 - NEWSLETTER - ISSUE III-MMXIVSean's Cyber Corner Sean answers questions and gives tips to help small business owners use technology. Do

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APRIL 2014 - NEWSLETTER - ISSUE III-MMXIV

Sean's Cyber Corner

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Sean Atkinson

Sean answers questions and gives tips to help small business owners use technology. Do you have a question? Send him an email at Immediate Tech Support.
Today’s Question:
I have been hearing that Comcast wants to buy out Time Warner Cable? What should I make of this?
Sean says:
Good question. In short, nothing good will come from this. Here is a good article on the proposed merger. Don’t wait until the merger is done to complain about the high bill. Voice your opinion with your Congresswoman, likely Debbie Wasserman/Schultz and Senator Bill Nelson.
Today’s Tip:
In the daily battle to try to keep away distractions (like spam) from your PC, here is an effective way of keeping your email address private when filling out an online form: MaskMe

Remember to visit Immediate Tech Support on Facebook.

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Is Net Neutrality Dead?

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For many small business owners reliable Internet access is an important tool. Whether it’s to showcase your product, process customer orders or communicate with vendors, the Internet is the best way go.

For years the best part about using the Internet to reach customers has been the equal access enjoyed by both large and small businesses. That level playing field has been in place largely because of the Federal Communication Commission’s Open Internet rules, which proponents often dub net neutrality.

Overview

Introduced in 2010, the idea behind net neutrality is to provide a common experience for everyone who accesses the Internet. Internet Service Providers (ISP) generally provide customers – large and small – the same access to all Web content and applications regardless of the level of their service.

The FCC cited three basic Open Internet Rules that broadband or ISP companies were to follow when granting Internet access to their customers:
* Transparency
* No Blocking
* No Unreasonable Discrimination

But in 2011 communications giant Verizon filed a legal appeal challenging the FCC’s authority to enforce its Open Internet rules on ISPs. And on Jan. 14, 2014 the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Verizon’s favor. This effectively struck down net neutrality.

The effect on Small Businesses

Now, with the FCC’s rules on the back burner, Verizon and other large companies have more flexibility in setting price structures and providing Web access to customers. Without net neutrality, small businesses could be placed at a disadvantage in numerous ways, including:

▪ Higher costs. Internet Service Providers (ISP) might eliminate a single monthly fee for standard web access and instead introduce tiered pricing structures for different levels of Web access.
▪ Unfair advantage. Business owners with smaller budgets may not be able to compete online with larger companies that can afford to pay extra for faster and more reliable access to the Internet.
▪ Multimedia. Small businesses that rely on video or other multimedia to showcase and market their products might see diminished service if they can’t pay their ISP a higher rate for faster Internet access. If that happens, it may be harder for customers to find and user a particular Website.

Among the first companies to take advantage of the court ruling were Comcast Corp., the nation’s largest broadband provider, and Netflix which provides entertainment programs streamed over the Internet. The companies inked a deal that gives Netflix preferred streaming of its content on Comcast’s broadband network. That squeezes out smaller third-party providers that might have streamed Netflix content around the country.

Still, many large Web service providers are taking a wait-and-see approach and say they don’t have any plans to change their policies based on the court’s decision; basically letting the FCCs Open Internet rules stand – for now.

Can Net Neutrality be saved?

In its ruling, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals left a door open for the FCC to appeal by affirming the commission’s authority, in principle, to regulate broadband Internet service.

The FCC, which believes the court ruling is based on a technicality, has announced plans to come up with a new set of rules that will clarify its authority to regulate how broadband Internet service is provided to consumers. Depending on how it’s written and how opponents react to it, the decision may eventually make its way to the Supreme Court.

There has been a call to arms by many proponents, and an “Open Internet Preservation” bill has even been proposed in Congress (although it is unlikely to get through). In the meantime, the FCC is still actively watching how Web service providers are making Internet access available to consumers and small businesses. If any small business owner feels a company has violated the Open Internet rules, they can file a complaint with the FCC.

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