Washington passes net neutrality law

admin 2018年5月16日

Vocabulary:

illegalize /ih-LEE-guh-lahyz/

[verb] to forbid something by law
The dictator illegalized the publication of criticisms of his government.

prioritization /prahy-awr-i-tuh-ZEY-shuhn/

[noun] the act of arranging or doing in order of importance
The mayor’s prioritization of the elite’s needs angered the masses.

put (something) into action /poot IN-too AK-shuhn/

[phrasal verb] to use or cause an idea or policy to happen or operate
What value do morals and principles have if you can’t put them into action?

deprive /dih-PRAHYV/

[verb] to take something, especially something necessary or pleasant, away from someone
Her strict parents deprived her of the freedom to enjoy her youth.

repeal /ih-RAD-i-keyt/

[verb] to make something no longer a law
The people rejoiced after the government’s decision to repeal the sexist and racist laws.

Governor Jay Islee of the Washington state has approved and signed House Bill 2282 which is now a law about protecting net neutrality rules. According to the law, internet service providers (ISPs) are prohibited from throttling, which is the intentional slowing down or speeding up of internet connection speed. On top of that, ISPs can neither block nor restrict access to legal content. The law also illegalizes paid prioritization. This is the practice of favoring some content or apps in exchange for payment.

The Democratic Governor points to the protection of consumers as the purpose of putting the law into action. He claimed that American citizens are being deprived of their core protections under the Trump administration. Islee’s decision counters the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) ruling last December 2017. In a 3-2 vote, the FCC decided to repeal net neutrality rules that the FCC under Obama passed 2 years ago.

True or False:

House Bill 2282 has become Washington’s net neutrality law.
The reason why the law is passed is to protect internet service providers.
The newly-passed law authorizes throttling.
ISPs will be subject to punishment if they prioritize content and websites that benefit them.
In the FCC’s recent decision, the side of abolishing net neutrality rules was three votes higher.

Discussion Questions:

How did the Internet change people’s way of life? Discuss.
Should the Internet be free and open? Please elaborate.
Does the Internet pose any danger to the users? Please explain your answer.
Do you think that the government passes laws that are harmful to its citizens? Discuss.
In your opinion, how should citizens act when they disagree with their governments’ decisions?

Express Your Opinion:

“When you have a strict censorship of the internet, young students cannot receive a full education.” – Ai Weiwei
“Access to computers and the Internet has become a basic need for education in our society.” – Kent Conrad
“In truth, government has been good to Wall Street and big business.” – Robert Reich