Opinion: ‘Net Neutrality’ Ruling a Blow to Social Enterprise

This week’s federal appeals court decision overturning most of the Federal Communications Commission’s 2010 Open Internet Order could significantly hinder social entrepreneurs and nonprofits that use the Web to share information and spread their message, a Forbes contributor says.

The court agreed with Internet service providers such as Verizon that have invested in building broadband networks and argue that they should have greater leeway to set charges or block traffic based on bandwidth use, content type, or other factors. The FCC has sought greater “net neutrality,” or equal treatment of all content providers. Tom Watson, who writes about social ventures for Forbes, said the decision threatens the open access that has sped the growth of social enterprise.

“In my experience, cost matters dearly to nonprofits and to social entrepreneurs working in tiny, fragile enterprises that may hold great social benefit,” he writes. “Forcing them to a metered system will close down easy digital innovation for small grant-supported or crowd-sourced startups” and put them at a disadvantage compared to “well-heeled corporate communications efforts.”