Net Neutrality Crosses A Positive Threshold

The ongoing struggle to prevent Internet Service Providers (ISP) from restricting, or even blocking, content for pretty much any reason they see fit crossed an important threshold on 2/26/2015 when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved a new net neutrality plan which reclassifies broadband internet as a Title II public utility.

Adaptistration People 048Reclassifying broadband providers, including mobile broadband, as a public utility provides the legal framework necessary for constructing and enforcing regulations that prevent those companies from charging businesses and users varying rates to deliver or access content, a process known colloquially as net neutrality.

Over the past few years, the FCC has been the target of numerous lawsuits from broadband providers in an effort to gain that level of unregulated control. Consequently, you can expect legal challenges to the latest decision along with political maneuvering from Representatives and Senators sympathetic to mega-corporations that comprise the bulk of broadband providers (Comcast, Verizon, Time Warner, etc.).

Fortunately, with the classification in place, it makes their collective task that much more difficult and the process drawn out so for the time being, net neutrality is secure but don’t expect the struggle to go away anytime soon.

Learn more about why this is such a critical issue for nonprofit performing arts organizations and how it has unfolded over the past few years.

About Drew McManus

"I hear that every time you show up to work with an orchestra, people get fired." Those were the first words out of an executive's mouth after her board chair introduced us. That executive is now a dear colleague and friend but the day that consulting contract began with her orchestra, she was convinced I was a hatchet-man brought in by the board to clean house.

I understand where the trepidation comes from as a great deal of my consulting and technology provider work for arts organizations involves due diligence, separating fact from fiction, interpreting spin, as well as performance review and oversight. So yes, sometimes that work results in one or two individuals "aggressively embracing career change" but far more often than not, it reinforces and clarifies exactly what works and why.

In short, it doesn't matter if you know where all the bodies are buried if you can't keep your own clients out of the ground, and I'm fortunate enough to say that for more than 15 years, I've done exactly that for groups of all budget size from Qatar to Kathmandu.

For fun, I write a daily blog about the orchestra business, provide a platform for arts insiders to speak their mind, keep track of what people in this business get paid, help write a satirical cartoon about orchestra life, hack the arts, and love a good coffee drink.

Related Posts

Leave a Comment