On November 20, INCOMPAS filed an ex parte that took a hard swing at cable and phone companies for attempting to kill net neutrality by eliminating interconnection protections. Interconnection is the first amendment of the internet, the point where all websites, from movie streaming services to small town real estate pages, connect to the internet.
The INCOMPAS letter argues that large Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have the incentive to discriminate, and a track record of doing so. They point out that the infamous Netflix slow down in 2014 took place at the point of interconnection.
Since the 2015 Order, the market has responded with an explosion in new cost saving streaming services and investment into business cloud migration. A
recent net neutrality poll by INCOMPAS and IMGE Insights identified that more than 70 percent of Americans - Republican and Democrats alike - say the internet has gotten better under the current rules.
The letter also points out that the New York State Office of the Attorney General found interconnection abuse taking place for years, and highlights consumer's inadequate access to competition and choice.
"Blocking interconnection is blocking plain and simple," said INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering. "Attacks on interconnection should send off alarm bells with consumers, streamers and businesses who will see prices rise and cloud services taxed by cable gatekeepers if the FCC eliminates net neutrality protections."
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