The Short Version: Net Neutrality

26 Nov The Short Version: Net Neutrality

The point of it all is to break down the headlines, determine why an issue is important, and reveal the best arguments on each side of the story. Recently Cleo Abram explored the tax cuts proposed by Republicans and the implications they posed.

This week she tackles net neutrality. The topic may sound dry, but the recent unveiling of proposed new FCC rules have been roiling the conversation around the internet. 

Note: If you have missed any of Cleo’s blogs, just go to our Home Page, type “The Short Version” into Search (magnifying glass icon) and poof, like magic, all her blogs will appear.

Cleo Constantine Abrams of the “Short Form,” offering densely packed spins on issues of national and global importance.

What’s happening?

On Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a plan to revoke net neutrality.

What’s net neutrality? Imagine all the sites you like only load

one

word

at

a

time

… unless they pay your internet service provider extra.

Right now, internet service providers (ISPs) like Verizon and Comcast have to treat all information online equally, no matter where it comes from. Soon that won’t be true.

Why is it important?

The new rules put forward by the FCC—now led by Trump appointee Ajit Pai—would allow ISPs charge content creators for access to faster delivery, or “online fast lanes.”

This would meaningfully restructure the rules of today’s internet. Back in 2015, the FCC under President Obama put in force rules to protect net neutrality by classifying high speed internet as a public utility. As a utility, the commission ruled, it had to be equally accessible for all Americans.

Since then, the issue has become increasingly polarized along party lines. In general, Democratic legislators support strong net neutrality rules while Republicans do not. Since Republicans outnumber Democrats on the commission 3 to 2, the new proposal is expected to pass when it goes to a vote on December 14th.

Debate it!

Does cutting tax rates for corporations and high-income individuals create jobs and increase wages?

Read the full debate here.

Why The Short Version on TIO?

Over nine years ago, Telluride Inside…and Out began as a lifestyle webzine. Today, in the full knowledge that Telluride is a window on the world, we continue to bring the “zazz” (short for “pizzazz) of the region to a local, national, and global audience by covering everything from Telluride’s robust cultural economy – major events and festivals – to health and fitness and outdoor adventure. When Telluride travels, we write about places to go, people to meet too. (That’s part of the “Out” part of our handle, the other, obviously, Outdoors.)

And now, this weekly column, “The Short Version,” which offers simple summaries of issues of national and global importance.

“The Short Version” is written by Cleo Constantine Abram, the daughter of Telluride locals Eleni Constantine and Jonathan Abram (and therefore an honorary local and regular visitor) and a digital strategist.

Why “The Short Version”? Because, though we live in Shangri-La, our bubble is not impermeable and the rest of the world is only a click away. Because there is no inconsequential action; only consequential inaction. And because information is power in a moment so many of us are feeling powerless.

More about Cleo Constantine Abram:

Cleo grew up in Washington D.C., lives in New York City, and loves to visit her parents in Telluride. She authors “The Short Version,” a newsletter that explains each week’s most important issue and both sides of the debate around it.

Cleo is a digital strategist now working at Vox, a general interest news site for the 21st century. Its mission is simple: Explain the news. Politics, public policy, world affairs, pop culture, science, business, and more.

Cleo’s work focuses on ways to share, educate, and inform using online platforms. While in college at Columbia University, she guided the school’s entrance into online education through her role as the youngest elected representative to the Columbia Senate, which makes university-wide policy.

She continued her work on online education at TED-Ed, the educational branch of the nonprofit, building new programs and online tools to support high school teachers worldwide.

Continuing her work with TED, Cleo founded and led an early TEDx conference, the organization’s community-specific series.

Recently, Cleo returned to school, studying video storytelling at Columbia Journalism School.

Most importantly, Cleo loves to ski.