{"id":2539,"date":"2014-05-15T10:43:00","date_gmt":"2014-05-15T10:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/archives\/2539-shapeways-supports-net-neutrality-stop-the-slow-lane.html"},"modified":"2014-07-03T17:34:37","modified_gmt":"2014-07-03T17:34:37","slug":"shapeways-supports-net-neutrality-stop-the-slow-lane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/shapeways-supports-net-neutrality-stop-the-slow-lane","title":{"rendered":"Shapeways supports Net Neutrality: Stop the Slow Lane"},"content":{"rendered":"
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You may have heard about Net Neutrality in the news recently. Here’s why we at Shapeways support it. The core principle of net neutrality is that all traffic (data) traveling across the internet should be treated the same at each stage of the process. <\/span>The FCC intends to propose rules that would allow Internet service providers to charge websites to access a “fast lane” and slow down every site that doesn’t pay. Any plan that allows for “pay-to-play” access is bad for startups, bad for growing businesses, and will hurt our economy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though for example, Netflix, may want to pay for faster access to deliver your video, when a new video streaming startup comes along, they could be forced into a slow lane if they couldn’t pay and their videos would be patchy. Essentially, the startup is doomed before it even gets going. This is so anti-innovation that Netflix is actually against it. As are we.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Image Source: CFC Oklahoma<\/font><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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How does this affect us?<\/strong><\/div>\n
Shapeways enables anyone to bring their products to life. We also empower entrepreneurs: the 16,000 Shapeways shops<\/a> are each a small business, and they live on the internet. They rely on visitors to our site to sell products and flourish. If our site loaded slower, each of those businesses would suffer.<\/div>\n
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Over the past twenty years, American innovators have created countless Internet-based applications, content offerings, and services that are used around the world. These innovations have created enormous value for Internet users, fueled economic growth, and made our Internet companies global leaders. This innovation happened in a world without discrimination. An open Internet has also been a platform for free speech and opportunity for billions of users.<\/div>\n
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Our letter to the FCC last week<\/a>, signed by over 200 web companies including Google, Amazon and Netflix, did cause the FCC to review but this debate is just picking up. The FCC meets today and will continue to talk through the summer.<\/div>\n
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What can I do?<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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May 15th is a Day of Action. You can show your support for Net Neutrality in these ways:<\/span>“><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

1. Tweet it out: <\/div>\n
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No one should have to pay to play on the Internet. We support #NetNeutrality and we urge the @FCC to support the Open Internet<\/em><\/p>\n

2. Put a <\/span>Stop the Slow Lane<\/a> link on your website<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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3. Send a message to the FCC Commissioners<\/a> or congressional offices and let them know you believe in real and meaningful net neutrality. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Want to learn more?<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Check out this great Mashable video<\/a>, the reddit campaign<\/a> or Fred Wilson’s insightful blog<\/a> and help keep the internet the open and innovative playground it should be, and #StopTheSlowLane<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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