Blog 8: The Great Internet Debate!

Net neutrality. Net neutrality is a tough topic in congress. It is a huge debate between limiting the internet and keeping it free. It maintains the free reign of access to all users that we are used to. If the internet is not kept “neutral,” it will soon become like satellite TV or cell phone companies. Satellite TV providers sign agreements with certain channels in terms of what they can and cannot provide to consumers. The same thing goes for cellular phone companies. Certain cell phones cannot be used on certain cellular networks, nor are they offered to consumers through competing networks. This is wrong because it limits consumer options through which provider they choose. If a consumer should decide that they really want to buy an EVO phone, they would be forced to go with Sprint. That said consumer would not be able to go with T-mobile, for example. The same thing could happen with the internet, and that is very wrong. The internet is the embodiment of free speech. It seems to be the last media format that has remained true to our first amendment rights. If net neutrality gets beat down in congress, our internet service could become the embodiment of what we suffer with cell phone companies—a complete ruling of the air by a select few big ticket labels.

In the land of television, the FCC has taken to censoring anything it deems “inappropriate” for viewers by either not allowing it to air, or by “beeping” out foulness. This causes many programs to “watch” what they say before they can televise their media. But isn’t this literally infringing on our first amendment rights? In an even more extreme model, the internet could literally be blocked by internet service providers (ISP) in the same way the FCC blocks television in order to “force” internet users to use ISP specific sites—or sites that the third party has paid for to get internet preference over other parties. This would constitute a “blocking” of internet media or a debasing of internet service (performance). Is this wrong? Isn’t this considered discrimination???

According to Wikipedia, the FCC issued a Broadband Policy Statement that listed out the “four principles of open internet.” These principals listed out ways to keep the internet preserved and open for consumers. Google also listed out four conditions that would, in Google’s opinion, keep the internet open. However, the FCC only adopted two of the four policies. It is up to the FCC to keep the internet from being taken over by large companies like Verizon, AT&T, and Comcast. Of note, Comcast (as well as the other big companies) would like to “take over” the internet and decide what content is seen, what speeds are delivered, and what search engines get blocked. Net neutrality is striving to protect us from this outcome. Why should these big companies dictate what we can or cannot use while online?

As long as net neutrality remains in place, we (consumers) will retain the freedom to use the internet freely, in any which way we choose. Our network speed will not deteriorate if we wander to a competitor’s website, our ability to access other search engines will not be blocked due to those competitor’s signing a contract with another service provider, and our ability to choose where we want to surf will remain intact and unbiased.

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While hunting around for information on this topic, I found three excellent short videos briefly describing net neutrality and why it is important. I figured I should share these with everybody reading.

The first one here is short and to the point. I took a particular liking to the way this one was created and expressed:

The second provides a slightly slanted viewpoint from the direction of those attempting to “save the internet,” but is likewise good at explaining the issue.

The third video here was funny and very short, making for an excellent short and to the point explanation of the tough issue:

The videos above were found on youtube.com and the images farther above were borrowed from their respective linked locations.