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cover of episode What the End of U.S. Net Neutrality Means For You

What the End of U.S. Net Neutrality Means For You

2025/1/22
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Rachel Feltman
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Rachel Feltman: 我对网络中立性问题一直没有完全理解,这让我感到困惑。 Ben Guarino: 网络中立性简单来说就是所有互联网流量都应该平等对待,这意味着你的互联网服务提供商 (ISP) 会平等对待来自所有网站的数据包。 这场辩论的核心在于谁应该进行监管。法院最近裁定联邦通信委员会 (FCC) 无法以网络中立性原则来对待互联网。如果FCC无法执行网络中立性原则,那么这项权力将转移到国会或各州手中。 对于倡导开放互联网的人来说,这是一个坏消息,因为各州的网络中立性法律可能无法有效地覆盖整个互联网。互联网是互联的,加州的法律无法阻止其他州的ISP违反网络中立性。 从ISP的角度来看,网络中立性的限制在于它阻止了他们区别对待不同的数据包。例如,他们可能希望通过降低竞争对手的流媒体服务速度来获利,或者向流媒体服务收取更高的费用。 人们担心取消网络中立性会引发互联网的根本性变化,这可能导致价格上涨等问题。 一项研究表明,虽然美国互联网服务提供商在固定宽带网络上没有违反网络中立性,但在某些无线数据套餐中存在限速行为。过去,无线网络限速可能由于频谱限制,但现在5G网络的普及使得这一理由可能不再成立。 短期内,美国消费者可能不会注意到取消网络中立性的明显影响,但长期来看,流媒体服务的订阅价格可能会上涨。 尽管联邦通信委员会不再负责执行网络中立性,但这并不意味着网络中立性已经消失,这场辩论还会继续。 Ben Guarino: 我解释了网络中立性的基本概念,以及它对互联网服务提供商和消费者可能产生的影响。 我详细阐述了法院裁决对网络中立性的影响,以及各州法律可能扮演的角色。 我讨论了互联网服务提供商可能利用缺乏联邦监管来损害竞争对手的方式,例如通过降低竞争对手的流媒体服务速度或向他们收取更高的费用来获利。 我还讨论了一项研究,该研究表明,虽然在固定宽带网络上没有明显的网络中立性违规行为,但在某些无线数据计划中存在限速行为。 最后,我强调了这场辩论的长期性,以及即使联邦通信委员会不再负责执行网络中立性,这场辩论也不会结束。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter defines net neutrality as the principle of equal treatment for all internet traffic and explains the ongoing debate surrounding its existence in the United States. It highlights the opposing viewpoints of internet service providers (ISPs) and advocates for an open internet.
  • Net neutrality: equal treatment of all internet traffic
  • Debate involves ISPs and open internet advocates
  • ISPs argue regulation stifles competition
  • Advocates emphasize free and open internet

Shownotes Transcript

Net neutrality, the principle that all Internet traffic should be treated equally, was heralded by the Federal Communications Commission and open Internet advocates. A federal court struck down the FCC’s ability to enforce the policy earlier this month. What does that mean for the free and open Internet? Associate technology editor Ben Guarino joins host Rachel Feltman to review the state rules that could preserve net neutrality and ways that telecommunications giants could leverage the lack of federal regulation against their competitors. 

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What the End of U.S. Net Neutrality Means

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Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Ben Guarino. Our show is edited by Fonda Mwangi with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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