Do you like reading Shoreline Area News? Why "Net Neutrality" matters

Net Neutrality

Current Federal Communication Commission (FCC) rules prohibit Internet providers like Comcast, Verizon, and AT/T from paid prioritization and require equal access for all.

County Executive Dow Constantine says,

Imagine if your cable or phone company got to decide what you could and couldn't see on the internet, or made it slower and more expensive to visit sites they didn't own - or didn't agree with.

The chairman of the FCC has proposed to destroy the principle of net neutrality, which prevents internet service providers like AT/T, Comcast, CenturyLink and Verizon from speeding up, slowing down, or blocking any specific content, applications, or websites.

The FCC is expected to vote on repealing Net Neutrality on December 14.

To comment to the FCC, follow these instructions:

1. On a computer, (not your phone!), go to: www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/express

2. Enter (under "Proceeding") the numbers 17-108 - then hit enter/return

3. After your name, hit enter/return

4. In comments, say you support Title 2 oversight of ISPs, and support net neutrality.


Local Independent Online News Publishers (LION) is a national nonprofit organization with more than 180 members operating locally focused news sites in 42 states. The group issued a statement on Monday expressing deep concern about the FCC’s proposal to scrap Net Neutrality rules.

Local independent online news sites (such as the Shoreline Area News) are springing up all over the country to fill gaps in local journalism, but they rely on an Internet-based level playing field for all publishers and readers, regardless of size or resources.

If Net Neutrality goes away, big internet and wireless providers will be able to charge individual publishers for levels of speed and access, a scenario in which a handful of big companies with deep pockets could squeeze out the kind of small, independent news publishers who are part of LION.

Contact our congressional delegation and ask them to protect Net Neutrality:

• Sen. Patty Murray 
• Sen. Maria Cantwell
• 7th District Pramila Jayapal 

--Diane Hettrick, Editor