Since Netflix is such a large and profitable company, it is very unlikely that they will go under; however, they might start to charge their customers more money for the exact same service viewers have now.

The FCC classifies the internet as “open internet,” which means that any website can be accessed  at the same speed without an extra charge. In January 2014, that changed when Verizon won its case in the U.S. Court of Appeals. Now,  after 5 months and a record-breaking 3.7 million public comments,  the FCC is plotting their next move.  The FCC could reclassify service-providers as “phone-like communications service.”  In that way, the FCC would be able to regulate them, thereby guaranteeing a “free and open” internet.

Net neutrality is “the principle that Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites.”

The court decision ruled in favor of Verizon. If a content website wants its viewers to load information faster, they have to pay an extra free to the internet service providers, like Verizon and Comcast. If the content provider wants the viewer to get the faster speed, then the provider (like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube) could charge their customers more money.

If one website company  is forced to do this, then its possible that other websites will have to follow suit to remain competitive. The down side is that  website owners that do not generate a lot of revenue will have to pay to get faster service, or it will take the viewers a longer time to see their websites.

Activist group, Save the Internet, predicts that this new law will force smaller websites out of business.

Mr. William Crum, computer science teacher, agrees with those who believe net neutrality is essential. He believes that the internet should be open to all equally; although, he does see that there are economic realities.  The Foundations of Computer Science class discussed this issue.