Network Neutrality
Let's start off with the easy stuff. What is Network Neutrality?
Network Neutrality ) is a principle proposed for user access networks participating in the Internet that advocates no restrictions on content, sites, or platforms, on the kinds of equipment that may be attached, and on the modes of communication allowed, as well as communication that is not unreasonably degraded by other traffic.
Well that's the wikipedia definition, but here's an example of network neutrality.
I have ATT as my internet provider, they cannot legally slow down or deny access to a specific website. (ie ATT cannot deny me the ability to search Sprints website).
Before this post I hadn't thought much of the concept of Net Neutrality, but if we didn't have it I think it would be a significant blow to the economy. The lack of Neutrality would allow a small group of companies the ability to control information flow over the internet. If I started a web business I may have to pay multiple service providers to give me full access to their customers, or maybe they have a deal with a large competitor that locks me out of their "internet" all together. These companies could in theory shut down sites like facebook and google, by charging them a few for every visit from a customer, ore charge the customers an extra amount to access these "premium" websites. I can only imagine that this would turn into something more like cable. Where a customer could buy a basic package, with 70% of the channels, but if they wanted HBO they had to pay an additional premium. With so many sites out there I couldn't imagine these service providers not charging the websites for access also. This would eventually kill several small businesses across the country. One of the primary reasons small business come to the internet is the cost, the other is exposure.
I know one of the main questions is what happens to data sharing technology without network neutrality. Once again I think it would look more like ordering cable TV. If I had ATT I could only use specific sites ATT outlines, and have to deal with their advertising. We wouldn't see an end to these sites, but they would become very limited, and we'd have to pay for access.
I think service providers have everything to gain from repealing network neutrality, and we the users of the internet have everything to lose.
Network Neutrality ) is a principle proposed for user access networks participating in the Internet that advocates no restrictions on content, sites, or platforms, on the kinds of equipment that may be attached, and on the modes of communication allowed, as well as communication that is not unreasonably degraded by other traffic.
Well that's the wikipedia definition, but here's an example of network neutrality.
I have ATT as my internet provider, they cannot legally slow down or deny access to a specific website. (ie ATT cannot deny me the ability to search Sprints website).
Before this post I hadn't thought much of the concept of Net Neutrality, but if we didn't have it I think it would be a significant blow to the economy. The lack of Neutrality would allow a small group of companies the ability to control information flow over the internet. If I started a web business I may have to pay multiple service providers to give me full access to their customers, or maybe they have a deal with a large competitor that locks me out of their "internet" all together. These companies could in theory shut down sites like facebook and google, by charging them a few for every visit from a customer, ore charge the customers an extra amount to access these "premium" websites. I can only imagine that this would turn into something more like cable. Where a customer could buy a basic package, with 70% of the channels, but if they wanted HBO they had to pay an additional premium. With so many sites out there I couldn't imagine these service providers not charging the websites for access also. This would eventually kill several small businesses across the country. One of the primary reasons small business come to the internet is the cost, the other is exposure.
I know one of the main questions is what happens to data sharing technology without network neutrality. Once again I think it would look more like ordering cable TV. If I had ATT I could only use specific sites ATT outlines, and have to deal with their advertising. We wouldn't see an end to these sites, but they would become very limited, and we'd have to pay for access.
I think service providers have everything to gain from repealing network neutrality, and we the users of the internet have everything to lose.
posted by David Zickafoose at
9:00 PM
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