Net Neutrality

The battle for the free internet has now begun to take a more serious turn. Cable and phone companies are trying to create sources in the internet to go fast and slow. Profit usually is the best explanation for actions of the companies, but this would mean an end to internet freedom for the masses. Internet users will only be allowed to access certain areas of the internet while most mainstream sites will be more controlled by the big cable and phone companies such as Comcast and AT&T. There are many people for and against Net Neutrality, and this post will introduce some of those individuals.

Savetheinternet.com is a coalition that has been mobilized to defend freedom in the internet. This coalition believes that eliminating Net Neutrality will ultimately result in crushing economic growth and any free speech policy. Why is Network Neutrality so important? Savetheinternet.com suggests it is the First Amendment of the internet. Anybody can search online for content in any website that will provide the information without any worry of restriction. All content is open for the public to access. Eliminating Net Neutrality will only provide power to big media and enforce their own road in the internet super highway. The “Internet Freedom Preservation Act 2008” (HR 5353) was introduced on Feb. 12, 2008 by Reps. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Chip Pickering (R-Miss.) The main purpose of this bill is to prohibit internet service providers from discriminating against sources and web sites in terms of content and destination of information. Another purpose for the bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to have public “broadband summits” summits to get input from the public on how to create an even better internet through openness and innovation. The overall goal of the bill is to keep the future of the internet in the hands of internet users and not any phone or cable companies.

Many people out there are against the idea of Net Neutrality. Keeping this belief means that there is no room for innovation and broadband service providers won’t have the ability to offer more than one service. Scott Cleland, founder and president of Precursor LLC and chairman of NetCompetition.org, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington believes Net Neutrality hinders growth. According to Cleland, "How does a new entrant succeed? You differentiate and you innovate. (Net neutrality) is saying you have to have the same price, and the same terms and conditions." He is obviously pointing out the fact that Net Neutrality can only be a hindrance from the internet taking a bigger step forward. Robert Kahn, considered as one of the pioneers of the internet, is against any idea of Net Neutrality. According to him, “so called ‘Neutrality’ legislation posed more of a danger than fragmentation.” He firmly believes that if innovation occurs in order to take the internet to the next level, you are going to need the help of companies to lead the way. Kahn believed that the internet was almost lost not so long ago, and he intends to support the cause to prevent from any such thing to happen.

The very thought of the internet being controlled by phone and cable companies seems so outrageous. As if television and radio stations are not controlled enough that big companies such as Comcast want to control the internet also. For years the internet has been successful because of the willingness of people to use the system for everyday use. People depend on the internet to get the latest information that they may not get from the newspapers, television, or any other media. Many agree that an internet network’s job is to move the data and not necessarily choosing which data to privilege with higher quality service. Hindering the general public from accessing important information online can only mean disaster in the years to come. Small businesses being taxed to get their information out in the internet seems unfair because of the price they have to pay. These businesses will be phased out of the equation if the legislation is turned down and big companies get their way. Everyone should have the same form of access to the internet. Fair game must be enforced in order to maintain a balance of power between the general public and big media companies. The internet has come a long way and to give the power to big companies only diminishes any accomplishments that have and will be done. Net Neutrality must remain in order to maintain the balance of power between big and small companies out there.