The changing face of the US administration means drastic policy changes are coming. Tom Wheeler, the 31st chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and longtime proponent of net neutrality, has stepped down from his position. Net neutrality is a policy enacted by the FCC that prevents Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from prioritizing certain internet traffic over others. Many fear that Trump’s new appointee will do away with net neutrality. If net neutrality is abolished, it could have significant impact on the Internet of Things.
The IoT relies on open internet concepts for devices to communicate with each other freely. If ISPs are allowed to restrict communication flow between these devices, they will not work effectively. When the IoT works effectively, the advantages are innumerable.
3