Yesterday I had the misfortune of attempting to have a conversation with someone who was certain that there was no problem with competition without net neutrality.
Instead, I explored their perspective. The only thing I could come up with is that when some people speak of competition, they think of competition between Internet Service Providers (ISPs). They do not think of the ISPs themselves competing with services that are simply accessed through their network.
It’s mind-boggling to me that people don’t understand that issue of disruption within the Internet.
It also boggles me that such people are in regulatory frameworks, and these are people who define discussions had about such neutrality. It’s no wonder that assuring equity between companies providing services on the internet and ISPs is such a moot point at this time.
And therefore, we can’t get beyond network neutrality to the real crux of things.
It wont matter how neutral the internet is when everyone is stuck inside facebag and insta looking at advertisements on an android phone. The walled gardens are a bigger enemy to the internet. No use explaining net Neutrality to someone who doesnt use the internet.
And yet, everyone you mentioned so despondently does use the Internet.