Net Neutrality

For those of us who weren’t aware apparently there is a huge debate on network neutrality. The debate involves new economy companies like Google and Yahoo but also the old economy companies like AT&T, Verizon Communications, Time Warner and Comcat. Congress is attempting to decide how much control the new and old companies should have involving the Internet pipelines (Wikipedia). To understand net neutrality we may think of it as no discrimination which is prevents Internet providers from speeding up or slowing down Web content based on its source, ownership or destination (SavetheInternet.com). Network neutrality is what allows us the ability to “access any Web site we want, whenever we want, at the fastest speed,” and watch “online video, listening to podcasts, sending instant messages anytime we choose” (SavetheInternet.com). Net neutrality is the “principle that Internet users should be able to access any web content they want, post their own content, and use any applications they choose, without restrictions or limitations imposed by their Internet service providers”( www.commoncause.org). Network Neutrality is what makes all of those things possible. Net neutrality is what allows economic innovation, democratic participation, and free speech online, something many of us take for granted. The reason for the debate is that the oldest and largest economy companies like AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and Time Warner want to decide which Web sites go fast or slow and which won't load at all, acting like a “gatekeeper” (SavetheInternet.com). Basically these companies want to tax content providers to guarantee their own speedy delivery of data and “discriminate in favor of their own search engines, Internet phone services, and streaming video, while also slowing down or blocking their competitors” (SavetheInternet.com).

Many may just believe that this just involves the corporations but it affects many others. Think of small business owners. They benefit from an internet that allows them to compete directly small business owners’ and Net Neutrality ensures that “innovators can start small and dream big about being the next EBay or Google without facing insurmountable hurdles”(SavetheInternet.com). Not just small business owners will be affected by the larges companies taking over the internet, everyone who uses the internet will be affected. Consumers are the ones ultimately in control. We decide what content, applications and services to use. The website Save the Internet says that without net neutrality the “Internet will look more like cable TV,” with network owners will deciding which channels, content and applications are available; consumers will have to choose from their menu.” Also decisions would be made by corporate boards, not the consumers. Without network neutrality, we would lose innovations, competition would be limited, and access to information restricted. Above all and the main reason to support network neutrality is that consumer choices and the free market would be sacrificed to the interests of a few corporate executives.

A major reason to support net neutrality is because it affects many of us. It determines what information if available to us and allows us all to have equal access to the internet. When comparing the internet to telephone providers, consumers are not told who they can call or what they can say. Broadband carriers should not be allowed to use their market power to control activity online as well. Many of us are unaware of the issues revolving network neutrality and those who may have heard of it are may be unaware it involves us, the daily consumers of the internet. The idea of an open internet is at stake.

(September 2006). A Battle for control of the web. The Wall Street Journal Savetheinternet.com Wikipedia.com