Today Marks The Beginning Of The End For Net Neutrality

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Today marks the beginning of the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) repeal of net neutrality. While portions of the repeal are scheduled to be rolled out at later dates, they mostly deal with issues that won’t have any direct impact on the nonprofit performing arts sector (such as data collection requirements).

Having said that, you shouldn’t expect slowdowns to happen immediately.

Adaptistration Guy 213As anticipated by most experts, there are slew of legal challenges brewing and even though the repeal contained language prohibiting states from passing legislation restoring lost regulations, that hasn’t stopped them from doing exactly that.

California is pushing a series of new regulations that require Internet Service Providers (ISP) to continue complying with elements from the now defunct federal rules.

Those hoping for Congress to step in with new laws to restore net neutrality can put those dreams to rest, at least, for the time being. Most of the legislation proposed by the current GOP majority is designed to allow ISPs to engage in pay-for-play prioritization. Meaning, if you don’t pay an ISPs price, your organization’s websites will load slower than those who pay.

That’s the exact sort of practices net neutrality previously prohibited.

If you haven’t done so already, be sure to review the preparation guide published here on 3/13/18.

Moreover, you’ll want to follow the series of articles I’ve been writing at ArtsHacker.com on how to improve performance and push back against ISP slowdowns. Installment five of six comes out this week.

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.

View all posts by Drew McManus | Website

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