Now You Know: Zazie Beetz Explains Net Neutrality

Do you like the internet?

I bet you do.

What if I told you that everything about the internet

as you know it could change?

Let's talk about net neutrality.

(intense music)

Net neutrality is the idea that

your internet service provider, or ISP,

must treat all online traffic equally.

Meaning it should be just as easy for you

to register to vote online

as it is for you to troll me.

In 2015, net neutrality was adopted as official policy

of the US Government with the open internet order.

The internet became a public utility

regulated by the government,

like water, gas, or electricity.

This is important.

Without net neutrality, your ISP has the power to decide

what you get to see and how quickly you get to see it.

Companies like Comcast, AT&T, or Verizon

could divide the internet up into slow and fast slates.

That would set up a system where the more money

an individual, a website, or a company makes,

the more access they would have to higher streaming speeds.

That's why it was a big deal when

the Federal Communications Commission, or the FCC,

partially repealed net neutrality last December.

Ajit Pai, the FCC Chairman appointed by Donald Trump,

said that net neutrality has

impaired investment and competition.

Protestors and activists, on the other hand,

say that if internet service providers can charge more,

users like you will end up footing the bill.

It'll be easier for large companies

like Netflix and facdbook to afford access

to higher streaming speeds, which in turn,

could mean that those with the deepest pockets

have the loudest voices.

The battle over net neutrality is still happening.

In Congress and in the courts,

which makes it a crucial issue for candidates

to address ahead of the midterms.

So when you vote, and ya'll are gonna vote,

make sure to find out if your candidate

supports net neutrality, or not.

Because it matters and because now you know.

Right, Eric.

Facts.

(techy music)