**The Reality of Net Neutrality: Six Times ISPs Violated the Rules**

As we navigate the complexities of the internet and its various services, it's essential to remember that net neutrality was put in place to regulate the actions of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and ensure a level playing field for all users. While some argue that net neutrality is not necessary or has been unfairly implemented, there are numerous instances where ISPs have violated the rules and demonstrated their desire to restrict access to certain websites and services.

**Comcast Blocked BitTorrent in 2005**

In 2005, Comcast, the world's largest ISP, began secretly blocking peer-to-peer technologies that its customers were using over its network. This move was done without warning or notice to its users, and it effectively blocked a popular file-sharing service called BitTorrent. The fact that Comcast chose to block this specific technology highlights the need for net neutrality, as it demonstrates how ISPs can take unilateral action to restrict access to certain services.

**Verizon Blocked Pro-Choice Text Messages in 2007**

In 2007, an abortion rights organization was conducting a fundraising campaign that used text messages to reach supporters. However, Verizon refused to allow this organization to send its messages over the network, citing that it only allowed "political campaign messages" to be sent through its services. This decision not only blocked pro-choice content but also prevented other organizations from using similar tactics to raise funds for their causes. Such actions demonstrate how ISPs can prioritize certain content over others based on their own agendas.

**AT&T Blocked Skype and Other Voice Over IP Services from 2007 to 2009**

In 2007, AT&T forced Apple to block Skype and other competing voice over IP phone services on the iPhone. This move was done without warning or explanation, and it effectively prevented iPhone users from using any application that would allow them to make calls over the internet for free. The fact that AT&T chose to restrict this service highlights the need for net neutrality, as it demonstrates how ISPs can take control of what services are available on their networks.

**MetroPCS Tried to Block All Streaming Except from YouTube in 2011**

In 2011, MetroPCS announced that it would block all video streaming over its 4G network from any source except YouTube. The company took the FCC to court over this decision, arguing that it was within its rights as an ISP to restrict content on its network. However, the move effectively blocked users from accessing popular streaming services like Netflix or Hulu, highlighting the need for net neutrality in ensuring a level playing field for all online content.

**AT&T Blocked FaceTime from 2012**

In 2012, AT&T blocked Apple's video chat app FaceTime from running on its mobile network. However, this restriction was not absolute and only applied to customers who did not have an unlimited voice and text plan. The fact that AT&T chose to block a popular service like FaceTime highlights the need for net neutrality in preventing ISPs from restricting access to certain services based on payment plans.

**Verizon Admitted to Prioritizing Websires and Services That Pay Up in 2013**

In 2013, a lawyer representing Verizon stood in court and admitted that the company's primary motivation was to prioritize websites and services that were willing to pay for better access to its network. This statement highlighted the need for net neutrality, as it demonstrated how ISPs can prioritize certain content based on payment plans, effectively creating a system of fast lanes and slow lanes.

These instances demonstrate that even with net neutrality in place, ISPs are still willing to take unilateral action to restrict access to certain services or websites. It's essential to continue advocating for stronger regulations to prevent such actions and ensure a level playing field for all users.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enwe don't need net neutrality I mean after all the internet was totally fine before we even had net neutrality right so you might remember back on December 14 2017 the FCC voted three to two to officially repealed net neutrality of course the changes didn't actually take effect until a couple days ago as of June 11th net neutrality rules are officially repealed and carriers are free to do well whatever they want with the Internet traffic they have they can throttle your speeds to certain websites and of course favor others and they can do the same thing to the services and apps that you love they can literally decide that they like Netflix more than YouTube and make sure that when you visit Netflix that your speeds are really really fast and when you use YouTube that your speeds are crawling I mean of course realistically why would they ever do something like that well maybe Netflix is paying them a little something extra to make sure Netflix seems way way faster than other sites oh yeah as fees can do that now to accept payments from services and companies and discriminate against others now I've been reporting on net neutrality for years I've seen every argument against it America the free market will decide and competition will well well I typically do lean a little bit more conservative most of the time it is sure hard to have a free market and competition when millions of Americans only have one ISP in their area they literally have no a third choice where they live there's no such thing as competition ho but then there's my favorite argument that we didn't have a single issue with the internet before 2014 2015 ish when net neutrality was actually put in effect the internet was fine before net neutrality they say you see the US didn't implement net neutrality for fun we didn't just make this stuff up we specifically set rules in place to ISPs and carriers because at the time they had really started to take advantage of the situation which of course was the lack of any sort of regulation so I'm going to help you out here's a list of six times whether you have no idea that these things ever happened or maybe you're one of those lovely people that conveniently forgot about these things happening so you could argue against net neutrality six times where net neutrality rules were totally violated number six Comcast blocked BitTorrent that's right my friends in 2005 Comcast the world's largest ISP began secretly blocking peer-to-peer technologies that his customers were using over its network so yeah you were using something like BitTorrent uh no that's a no-no you just you just didn't know that cuz it was a secret number five verizon blocked pro-choice text messages okay so in 2007 an abortion rights organization was doing a fundraising campaign that took advantage of the supporters ability to send donations to the organization via text message Verizon however did not allow us to clarify Verizon did allow political campaign messages to be sent through its network just not this one the abortion rights organization was able to reach people on literally every other network that just you know wasn't Verizon now listen this has zero to do with my own personal opinions or my own political views nothing to do with that I'm simply putting this in the list so that you get a good example of the fact that well without net neutrality carriers can get political and push their own agendas number four AT&T blocked Skype and other voice over IP services oh yeah this is real from 2007 to 2009 AT&T forced Apple to block Skype and other competing voice over IP phone services on the iPhone hey literally wanted to prevent iPhone users from using any other application that would allow them to make calls on such quote-unquote over-the-top voice services hi well of course because AT&T is not what you're using the internet to make calls for free they want you to pay them and only use their network to make calls and without net neutrality that's totally acceptable number three and this is one of my favorites MetroPCS tried to block all streaming the except from YouTube oh no that's not a thing that didn't happen yep sure did in 2011 metro pcs announced that they would block all video streaming over his 4G network from literally all sources okay except from YouTube and they took the FCC to court over this exact thing so for the people out there that totally deny that we would ever be restricted from a certain website service or app there's that number 218 T blocked FaceTime I guess AT&T again in 2012 AT&T totally blocked Apple's video chat app FaceTime from running on its mobile network that is of course unless customers paid extra for the mobile shared data plan which required that they also pay for unlimited voice service and text messages so yeah you can choose FaceTime for free as long as you pay us the biggest amount for unlimited talk and text - this one is for the people that say that carriers would never ever split our favorite apps and services into different payment packages and number one Verizon literally said that the only thing stopping them was in fact net neutrality I am not joking in 2013 a lawyer from Verizon stood in court and literally said that Verizon wants to prioritize websites and services that are willing to shell out for better access she also admitted that Verizon would like to block online content from companies or individuals that don't pay Verizon's tolls so yeah definitely for sure the internet was totally fine before net neutrality next time some says that send them this videowe don't need net neutrality I mean after all the internet was totally fine before we even had net neutrality right so you might remember back on December 14 2017 the FCC voted three to two to officially repealed net neutrality of course the changes didn't actually take effect until a couple days ago as of June 11th net neutrality rules are officially repealed and carriers are free to do well whatever they want with the Internet traffic they have they can throttle your speeds to certain websites and of course favor others and they can do the same thing to the services and apps that you love they can literally decide that they like Netflix more than YouTube and make sure that when you visit Netflix that your speeds are really really fast and when you use YouTube that your speeds are crawling I mean of course realistically why would they ever do something like that well maybe Netflix is paying them a little something extra to make sure Netflix seems way way faster than other sites oh yeah as fees can do that now to accept payments from services and companies and discriminate against others now I've been reporting on net neutrality for years I've seen every argument against it America the free market will decide and competition will well well I typically do lean a little bit more conservative most of the time it is sure hard to have a free market and competition when millions of Americans only have one ISP in their area they literally have no a third choice where they live there's no such thing as competition ho but then there's my favorite argument that we didn't have a single issue with the internet before 2014 2015 ish when net neutrality was actually put in effect the internet was fine before net neutrality they say you see the US didn't implement net neutrality for fun we didn't just make this stuff up we specifically set rules in place to ISPs and carriers because at the time they had really started to take advantage of the situation which of course was the lack of any sort of regulation so I'm going to help you out here's a list of six times whether you have no idea that these things ever happened or maybe you're one of those lovely people that conveniently forgot about these things happening so you could argue against net neutrality six times where net neutrality rules were totally violated number six Comcast blocked BitTorrent that's right my friends in 2005 Comcast the world's largest ISP began secretly blocking peer-to-peer technologies that his customers were using over its network so yeah you were using something like BitTorrent uh no that's a no-no you just you just didn't know that cuz it was a secret number five verizon blocked pro-choice text messages okay so in 2007 an abortion rights organization was doing a fundraising campaign that took advantage of the supporters ability to send donations to the organization via text message Verizon however did not allow us to clarify Verizon did allow political campaign messages to be sent through its network just not this one the abortion rights organization was able to reach people on literally every other network that just you know wasn't Verizon now listen this has zero to do with my own personal opinions or my own political views nothing to do with that I'm simply putting this in the list so that you get a good example of the fact that well without net neutrality carriers can get political and push their own agendas number four AT&T blocked Skype and other voice over IP services oh yeah this is real from 2007 to 2009 AT&T forced Apple to block Skype and other competing voice over IP phone services on the iPhone hey literally wanted to prevent iPhone users from using any other application that would allow them to make calls on such quote-unquote over-the-top voice services hi well of course because AT&T is not what you're using the internet to make calls for free they want you to pay them and only use their network to make calls and without net neutrality that's totally acceptable number three and this is one of my favorites MetroPCS tried to block all streaming the except from YouTube oh no that's not a thing that didn't happen yep sure did in 2011 metro pcs announced that they would block all video streaming over his 4G network from literally all sources okay except from YouTube and they took the FCC to court over this exact thing so for the people out there that totally deny that we would ever be restricted from a certain website service or app there's that number 218 T blocked FaceTime I guess AT&T again in 2012 AT&T totally blocked Apple's video chat app FaceTime from running on its mobile network that is of course unless customers paid extra for the mobile shared data plan which required that they also pay for unlimited voice service and text messages so yeah you can choose FaceTime for free as long as you pay us the biggest amount for unlimited talk and text - this one is for the people that say that carriers would never ever split our favorite apps and services into different payment packages and number one Verizon literally said that the only thing stopping them was in fact net neutrality I am not joking in 2013 a lawyer from Verizon stood in court and literally said that Verizon wants to prioritize websites and services that are willing to shell out for better access she also admitted that Verizon would like to block online content from companies or individuals that don't pay Verizon's tolls so yeah definitely for sure the internet was totally fine before net neutrality next time some says that send them this video\n"