If you want to see what America will be like if it ditches net neutrality, just look at Portugal

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

On Tuesday, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that it plans to vote on an order to roll back Obama-era rules that guarantee net neutrality.

Simply put, net neutrality means that all data on the internet is treated equally. An ISP can't prioritize certain companies or types of data, charge users more to access certain websites and apps, or charge businesses for preferential access.

Advocates of net neutrality argue that it ensures a level playing-field for everyone on the internet — while telecoms firms are largely against it because of the additional restrictions it places on them.

But with the Republican-majority FCC likely to vote in favor of repeal on December 14, what might the American internet look like without net neutrality? Just look at Portugal.

In the country, wireless carrier Meo offers a package in the country that is very different to what's available in the US. Users pay for traditional "data" — then on top of that, they pay for additional packages based on the kind of data and apps they want to use on the internet.



Really into messaging? Then pay the €4.99 ($5.86, or £4.43) per month and get more data for apps like WhatsApp, Skype, and FaceTime. Prefer social networks — Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Messenger, and so on? That'll be another €4.99 every month. Video apps like Netflix and YouTube are available as another add-on, while Music (Spotify, SoundCloud, Google Play Music, etc.) is another, as is Email & Cloud (Gmail, Yahoo Mail, iCoud, etc.).

This kind of model is dangerous, net neutrality's defenders argue, because it risks creating a two-tier system that harms competition. People will naturally just use big apps included in the bundles that they've already paid for, while upstart challengers will be left out in the cold.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/if-you-want-to-see-what-america-will-be-like-if-it-ditches-net-neutrality-just-look-at-portugal/ar-BBFsnPh?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=edgsp

[nini]

1. This isn't really a valid comparison

Access to the internet is much much cheaper there. I plan on moving there and people I know there now pay 50 euros a month for internet, phone and TV. However, what you see above is for mobile phone service plans and is like we add stuff to cable/satellite TV. We already pay for things that way here or just get a major package etc. Portugal is under the EU's net neutrality plan and not on their own anyway.

The problem I have with net neutrality is the provider 'blocking' access to certain sites..like DU .. because they want to destroy it.
This example that has gone viral isn't really a good argument for what we're facing. We're already paying too damn much as it is.

[moondust]

2. Artificial categorization.

It's all bits and bytes. Once you start artificially categorizing the bits and bytes there's no telling where it ends when the profit motive is driving it.