Net neutrality bill takes center stage again

Congress took another stab at dealing with the complex issue of net neutrality last week. A number of House members introduced a bill to preserve the open nature of the web, asking the Federal Communications Commission to keep a watchful eye on Internet service providers.

The Internet Freedom Preservation Act would ban ISPs from blocking, interfering with or discriminating against lawful applications and devices on the Internet.

How would it affect you? In plenty of ways. The ISPs would also be banned from offering prioritized Internet access or requiring customers to sign up for service other than Internet access.

If your company does business online, be forewarned that these changes may be coming. If you sell goods or services online, in particular, it will affect you directly.

"The Internet is a success today because it was open to everyone with an idea," bill sponsor Rep. Edward Markey, D-MA., said in a statement reported by PCMag.com. "This bill will protect consumers and content providers because it will restore the guarantee that one does not have to ask permission to innovate."

While you may think that net neutrality issues don't affect you, consider what already impedes your ability to do business effectively online. 

For more on net neutrality:
- check out this PCMag.com article

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