Ever see the movie Groundhog Day? Sometimes Washington feels a little like that. Case in point: the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today announced its intent to move forward with a net neutrality rulemaking proceeding via a statement from Chairman Tom Wheeler. We’ve seen this movie before, but now we’re gearing up for the sequel.

Déjà vu aside, this is a significant development. On January 14, 2014, a federal appeals court threw out the FCC’s Open Internet Order meant to preserve a level online playing field for creators and other entrepreneurs. Since then, we’ve been waiting to see what Chairman Wheeler’s next move might be. Today, we have our answer.

In a nutshell, Wheeler’s plan involves a public comments proceeding, followed by an expected rulemaking under a different legal rationale than the one the court rejected. Wheeler seems confident that the Commission can issue new rules based on its existing Congressional mandate to “encourage broadband deployment by, among other things, removing barriers to infrastructure deployment, encouraging innovation, and promoting competition.” Others, FMC included, are concerned that this approach may not be the clearest way to protect an open, accessible internet.

Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?
-Johnny Rotten, January 14, 1978

January 14, 1978 was the last official gig by a band many would consider the original punk act: the Sex Pistols. That day was a disappointment for fans of unbridled rock ‘n’ roll. And today—Jan 14, 2014—is likewise a letdown for musicians and everyone else who uses the Internet.

Earlier this morning, a federal appeals court in Washington, DC struck down the Federal Communications Commission’s rules meant to keep the internet open to free expression, entrepreneurship and innovation. By overturning the FCC’s 2010 Open Internet Order, the court in one fell swoop undid almost a decade of YOUR efforts to preserve a level online playing field.

Remember that little thing called net neutrality that FMC and our musician and independent label pals have been talking about for years? Well, this week AT&T made a move that underscores why this principle is so important to creators.

You might already know about how AT&T and other Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are charging subscribers extra if they exceed a certain amount of data per month. This might suck for users, but is within the rights of these corporations to do. Where things get iffy is when an ISP exempts its own services and content—or those of its preferred partners—from being counted against the data caps.

It’s easy to take the Internet for granted—we use it every day in practically every aspect of our lives. From our personal calendars to our creative projects to our everyday communications, the Internet is how we conduct our business and engage with the world. For artists, the Internet is the crucial means to connect with potential audiences, as well as a powerful platform for creative expression. 

Part one of a series by FMC Policy Fellow Rachel Allen

In the past few years, streaming music and video have changed the way artists connect with fans. Popular music services such as Spotify and Pandora, high-quality video sites like Vevo, and a number of other digital platforms and applications have been important tools for fans to discover music and for artists to get paid for their work (even if the business models aren’t uniformly agreed upon). Recent studies have found that applications for music comprise the fastest growing activity among mobile phone users.  Moreover, artists like Jay Z and Lady Gaga, as well as smaller acts such as Dan Deacon, are using mobile applications to create new interactive music experiences (but as was the case with Jay Z, not all of these experiments are embraced).

Why do we bring this up now? Well, streaming music and video services would not be possible without access to high-speed broadband. However, as the music and video industries go mobile, the price and quality of connections has become more and more uncertain.

This series will explore how the evolution of the Internet impacts musicians and other creators—whether the connection is on a desktop, a laptop or a mobile device. We’ll explore the ins and outs of how artists connect, and why accessible technology platforms are essential to today’s creative entrepreneurs.