Net Neutrality
Essay Preview: Net Neutrality
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As someone who has had some sort of web presence for over ten years , I am completely and unequivocally in favor of net neutrality. Google defines net neutrality as “the principle that Internet users should be in control of what content they view and what applications they use on the Internet. ” What net neutrality means to me, is that the content I have to share (however mundane it may be) has an equal opportunity of reaching any Internet user as any other content on any other web site. There are some interesting videos on You Tube discussing this topic most notably Robin Millers video which talks about how net neutrality benefits individuals like you and me. However, the threat to net neutrality impacts everyone–small businesses, large businesses, and individuals .
If we lose the battle to maintain net neutrality it could stifle competition amongst businesses online with the only companies remaining being the ones who can afford to pay premiums to broadband service providers for prioritization. Technologies like packet shaping (not necessarily a bad technology depending on what it is used for) are paving the way for such discrimination. Small businesses will find it more difficult to compete, as the lack of net neutrality will pose as yet another barrier to entry that they must overcome. Large businesses will be impacted also. Broadband service providers could favor one business over another. In some cases, if the broadband service provider offers a similar service they will have the ability to prevent competitors from reaching potential consumers. Even well established businesses arent safe. Not only are we hurt as individual content providers ourselves (forget sharing your own videos, podcasts, other content); worse is the damage to us as consumers. You and I will no longer be able to choose what content we view and what applications we use on Internet. Our broadband service providers will be making these choices for us.
In most cases lack of regulation is a good thing because more often than not the government just makes life more complicated for all of us. However, in the case of net neutrality it is increasingly important for Congress to step in. We clearly need to do something in order to prevent broadband service providers from obliterating our Internet freedom. We need to bring the Internet back to the way it was and should be–open to everyone, without regard to who you are or the size of your business.
Opponents of net neutrality