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by deadbabe 781 days ago
I remember the campaigns for net neutrality made it seem like if we lose it it would be the end of the internet as we know it. That never really happened. And now that it’s being restored, reaction seems to be “meh”.
2 comments

> That never really happened.

A few reasons this might be true:

1. States like California passed their on laws enforcing net neutrality, making it much more difficult for national ISPs to implement the expected predatory practices

2. It takes time to implement new processes, and it was never clear that NN would stay dead, so ISPs wouldn't want to invest too heavily in fear of a day like today.

3. It might have happened to some users and you didn't see it. It of course was never expected that the moment NN was repealed, everyone's internet everywhere would turn to sludge.

4. Companies saw the backlash and didn't want the negative PR associated with being the first example everyone would point to.
That's because, to my knowledge, none of the major internet providers took advantage of it being eliminated, presumably because the idea of "faster internet access to Netlfix" or whatever didn't test well with audiences who were used to the status quo of net neutrality. Had the ban remained in place, it's possible that status quo would have been slowly been eroded.

EDIT: Upon reading another comment, and California's Net Neutrality law, it's also possible that ISPs didn't deem it worth it to see if California would sue companies that provide net-neutral service to Californians but non-net neutral service to out-of Californians.