Edtech Startups Protest FCC Proposal for ‘Two-Tiered Internet’

Leading education entrepreneurs recently filed concerns about how having a “two-tiered” Internet can stifle innovation.

In May, over 100 Internet companies -- including industry giants like Google and Facebook, which presumably would be able to afford the “fast lane” access -- signed a letter to the FCC in protest of paid prioritization. Andrew Gioia, co-founder and COO of TeachBoost, believes the proposed rules “would open the door for commercially reasonable discrimination by ISPs.” A larger company who could afford a partnership with Internet service providers would be able to bring its content to consumers much more quickly. The changes would place “a very real stifle on startups,” as companies with less funding, unable to purchase the faster access to their sites, would be at a “competitive disadvantage.”