Writing Assignment 12: Net Neutrality

In recent years, the concept of net neutrality, and the highly debated controversy surrounding it, has made a lot of news in the United States. Simply put, net neutrality is the principle that protects a free and open internet. There are a great amount of people who are staunchly for keeping the internet open for all users, while there is also a rising opposition to this ideal. Those who oppose net neutrality, most notably are some large telecommunication companies, seem to want to take as much money as they can from consumers by proposing extra fees in order to provide them with currently free services. These services might include the bandwidth of a website or how fast a website can be loaded on your computer. Personally, my main concern with this issue is the fact that it is an issue. This should not be happening. A legal retraction of net neutrality would be absolutely terrible for everyone who wasn't reaping the fiscal benefits.

Supporters of keeping net neutrality want to keep the internet open and accessible to everyone. A group made up of several bands and musicians called "Rock The Net" is in full support of the conservation of net neutrality for everyone. Their platform for this issue is composed of three distinct points that they discuss on their website. Their first demand is that internet service providers should provide everyone with equal access to all websites and services that they may provide. This group argues that people who pay more should not get preferential treatment based on the fact that they have the spare change to fund their internet usage. Their second idea in their platform on the issue points out that net neutrality encourages innovation in many areas. Claiming that unequal access to the internet can hurt the growth and innovation in the areas of creativity, technology, and the economy. The final idea that the Rock The Net organization advocates is the basic right that all people should be free to see websites in spite of the content or controversy surrounding a particular issue (Rock The Net).

Many people fear the fact that if net neutrality was no longer around, ISP's would favor the websites of constituents who pay the most money. To me, the fact that ISP's could potentially give priority to some data over the rest based on commercial advertising money is very scary. And this is something that is actually going on, not just a theory of what could possibly happen. Other advocations include the protection of consumers, small businesses, and the integrity of the internet and it's standards (Wikipedia).

Those against the concept of net neutrality have their own reasons for their attitudes towards the issue. From what I can gather from the confusing arguements and lingo thrown around in countless forums and websites that I have perused is that large telecommunication companies like AT&T, for example, want to impose themselves as gatekeepers between the internet and consumers. For a price, one can expect full priority of websites and services, while others who do not pay the price set by these companies must deal with slow connections, blocked sites, and little attention from these companies. This power would let these companies impose their own views and services while blocking the sites that might be competing against them.

Personally, I think this is a terrible example of greed of internet service conglomerations who are high on their own power to control consumers. I am for the preservation of net neutrality because I am for personal freedom that doesn't have a monetary price tag attached to it. I do not agree with these big companies imposing their will on citizens by spending millions of dollars lobbying congress for their own personal gain.


Sources:

1) Rock the Net website. Accessed 11/14/08. http://www.futureofmusic.org/rockthenet/index.cfm.

2) Net Neutrality. Wikipedia Article. Accessed 11/14/08