Where does Spark Rack stand on Net Neutrality
Net Neutrality directly effects us, and it effects you as the owner of a website. Cable and Internet providers are working to try to remove the strict regulations that make it impossible for them to charge your visitors more money to visit your website. And on the other end, charge you for visiting some of your favorite websites, like Facebook, Twitter, using Snapchat, sending email, watching Netflix and so much more. And the Federal Communications Commission is trying to take it away from our visitors and consumers by catering to the major Telecom providers (AT&T, Verizon*, Comcast, Spectrum, etc). At Spark Rack, we are partnering with BattleForTheNet.com to help protect your rights, and the rights of your customers, and visitors. We ask that you join with us to fight back for a free and open internet
What is Net Neutrality?
This subject is very complex. But to simplify it. Net Neutrality is a set of rules that make it so that everyone who has access to the internet, companies big and small, have an equal playing field on the internet. No one company, or one group of company can control the internet. And no ISP can charge a company more to make data move faster over it’s network. Currently all internet traffic is treated as equal. Although some Telecoms have already been caught “throttling” data for services like Netflix. (Reference) At Spark Rack we use over 10 Petabytes a month to bring your website to your visitors, thats roughly 11,258,999,068,426,200 bytes of data sent out of our walls every single month. And that does not include our offices, it is strictly the servers that host your services with us. While this doesn’t mean Spark Rack is in danger, it does mean that prices for Hosting, Email access, Video tutorials, and a lot of online based services could skyrocket over night. Portual recently experienced this problem when it’s Net Neutrality rules were changed (find more information here). We do not want the same to happen here in the US. All of us work tirelessly to run our websites, and online businesses, we can not sacrifice our internet freedoms so that the 4 major Telecom providers can skim some more off the top.
No matter which side of the political fence you are on, how you feel about, or what you think you know about Net Neutrality. We urge you to do your research. This is a huge danger to the internet freedoms we’ve come to expect over the lifetime of the internet. And we need to fight back for it.
Some email providers may remove the videos we’ve included. We’ve posted direct links to them below.
Video: BattleForTheNet.com – Why Net Neutrality Makes The Internet So Great
Video: The Internet is under attack. This is the Battle for the Net
The following videos are satire and contain adult language, but are recommended to watch by adult audiences**
Video: Net Neutrality I: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Video: Net Neutrality Update: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Video: Net Neutrality II: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
In 2014, Spark Rack (then Punk Media) partnered with BattleForTheNet to stop these companies from fighting the institution of Net Neutrality rules in the US. And the FCC wants to take that away from us. This fight is far from over. And the US congress will be voting soon whether or not to block the repeal of the Net Neutrality rules put in place by President Obama, which again protects your rights, to use the internet however you deem fit, for one price. The internet was never meant to be a packaged deal where you pick and choose what you plan to use it for that month. We demand an open and free internet, allowing our company, our customers, and small businesses across our country the ability to compete in a fair environment online.
But don’t take our word for it. Visit BattleForTheNet.com for more information, to send a letter to congress and to get more information on how you can help prevent this from happening.
This effects all of us. It is important that you take the time and make an effort to protect your rights as a consumer.
Brad Trammell
Director, SparkRack.com
www.sparkrack.com/brad
* Disclaimer: While Spark Rack partners with Verizon & Level3 to provide services to our customers, we do not agree with the stance they’ve taken on Net Neutrality. We believe in an open internet, where consumers can visit any site they wish. For more information on our standing with Net Neutrality, contact Customer Care.
** Language Disclaimer: Spark Rack apologizes prior for the inclusion of content that contains adult language. However we feel it is in your best interest to view these videos.
Spark Rack always has been and always will be making decisions in the best interest of our consumers. We do not approve of the language presented in these videos, but feel it must be said.
