I remain puzzled over the “sky is falling” responses to rumors about possible FCC rules on Net Neutraility (NN). (See: New York Times, The Guardian and numerous others. ) There are no proposed rules at the moment but a lack of content for comment hasn’t slowed the production of commentary.
Should I be concerned about Netflix being set upon by an even more rapacious predator (Comcast)? (A common NN example.) What priority should NN have among the issues vying for my attention? (Is net neutrality dying? Has the FCC killed it? What comes next? Here’s what you need to know)
Every opinion is from a point of view and mine is from the perspective of a lifetime of privilege, at least when compared to the vast majority of humanity. So what priority does NN have among the world at large? For one answer to that question, I turned to the MyWorld2015 Project.
MY World is a United Nations global survey for citizens. Working with partners, we aim to capture people’s voices, priorities and views, so world leaders can be informed as they begin the process of defining the next set of global goals to end poverty.
If I am reading the chart correctly, Phone and internet access come in at #14.
Perhaps being satiated with goods and services for the first thirteen priorities makes NN loom large.
Having 95% of all possible privileges isn’t the same as having 96% of all possible privileges.*
*(Estimate. Actual numbers for some concerned residents of the United States are significantly higher than 96%.)
Just in case you are interested:
FCC Inbox for Open Internet Comments
Tenative Agenda for 15 May 2014 Meeting, which includes Open Internet The Open Meeting is scheduled to commence at 10:30 a.m. in Room TW-C305, at 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. The event will be shown live at FCC.gov/live.