Pre-reading questions:
- How did the Internet change your life?
- Do you think the Internet has become a necessity?
Vocabulary:
- net neutrality /net nyoo-TRAL-i-tee/
- prohibit /proh-HIB-it/
- restrict /ri-STRIKT/
- penalize /PEEN-l-ahyz/
- get rid /get rid/
[noun] idea that internet companies cannot speed up, slow down, or block content on the Internet
I support net neutrality rules because the Internet should be free.
[verb] to officially not allow something
Smoking in this area is strictly prohibited.
[verb] to limit something
The government restricted the people’s freedom.
[verb] to punish someone for breaking a law or a rule
Those who break the law shall be penalized.
[phrasal verb] to remove something
Please get rid of all the unusable junk in your room.
The bill protecting Internet users in the Washington area has been passed. Governor Jay Islee signed House Bill 2282, making Washington the first state to protect net neutrality. The law prohibits internet service providers (ISPs) from slowing down internet speeds. Under the said law, internet users’ access to legal content, apps, and services must not be restricted. ISPs will also be penalized for prioritizing certain pages whose owners pay them.
According to Islee, the intention behind the law is to protect consumers. He explained that American citizens must have access to free and open Internet. The law goes against the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) agreement to get rid of rules on net neutrality after a 3-2 vote. This is two years after FCC’s past decision to adopt net neutrality rules.
According to Islee, the intention behind the law is to protect consumers. He explained that American citizens must have access to free and open Internet. The law goes against the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) agreement to get rid of rules on net neutrality after a 3-2 vote. This is two years after FCC’s past decision to adopt net neutrality rules.
Comprehension Questions:
- How does Governor Islee plan to protect consumers in Washington?
- What does the law prohibit?
- How does the law protect consumers from ISPs?
- What did the Federal Communications Commission agree on 2 years ago?
- What do some ISPs do to websites whose owners pay them?
Discussion Questions:
- Do you think that there should be rules on net neutrality? Why or why not?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the Internet?
- How did the Internet change people’s lives in your country?
- How can people use the Internet responsibly?
- Do you believe that access to the Internet has become a basic need today? Discuss.