Major Tech Companies Stand Against the Government to Maintain Net Neutrality

Everything is equally created on the internet from major players to the new websites that are being uploaded, the internet service providers should not be in control of our content.

The biggest tech companies in the world of technology are gathering together to fight the Federal Communications Commission, which is working to revise and change the regulations passed during the previous presidency for internet providing services.

These tech giants include companies such as Mozilla, Amazon, Kickstarter, Reddit, Netflix, GitHub, Twitter, and Vimeo. Over 50 companies are coming together to protest.

Ohanian co-founder of Reddit protesting SOPA and PIPA in 2012.

All the big players on the web changed their website to increase the awareness of the Federal Communications Commission efforts and its purpose in trying to deregulate the cable and telecom industry.

For instance, Firefox will see a different interface when they open their web-browser.

However, this brings forth the government’s net neutrality rules that stop the internet service providers from limiting content and charging a special fee for the full show to the users.

This gathering mimics what happened five years ago when companies like Google, Wikipedia and others gathered to push back against the federal policies on net privacy. The participants blacked their websites to show resistance and gave a sample of censorship if the bill was passed.

Paul Graham talking about Prototype Day at Y Combinator.

Sam Altman, the chair of Y Combinator, says that small start-ups that the company supported have gone on to become major players in the market, such as Reddit. He further stated that without strong net neutrality rules, internet service providers will have the power to pick the small ones and the big ones in the internet ecosystem.

Companies like Mozilla are concerned with the fact that without strong net neutrality rules the game could change free speech, and have a major impact on the development of the internet.

Comcast’s headquarters (Comcast Center) in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Mozilla’s Chief Legal Officer stated that the FCC is causing harm to the free and open internet for the American people because they are creating an internet only beneficial to the internet service providers and not the people.

The concept of net neutrality is simple: treat all internet traffic equally, whether it’s your online streaming, emails, or music.

There are many internet services in favour of net neutrality, as they have shown opposition to the FCC’s policy so that a non-discriminatory internet eco-system can run – where anyone can launch a new website.

The month of July was the month of action and the ones that participated in this activity want to defend the internet and keep it open for everyone.

If you visit their website you will be asked to send a letter to the FCC and the Congress. A section of the letter says: “Censorship by ISPs is a serious problem. Comcast has throttled Netflix, AT&T blocked FaceTime, Time Warner Cable throttled the popular game League of Legends, and Verizon admitted it will introduce fast lanes for sites that pay and slow lanes for everyone else if the FCC lifts the rules. This hurts consumers and businesses large and small.”

Support the website and become a part of history. If you want to know more about it, click here.