Network neutrality is the principle that Internet users should be in control of what content they view and what applications they use on the Internet. The Internet has operated according to this neutrality principle since its earliest days. Indeed, it is this neutrality that has allowed many companies, including Google, to launch, grow, and innovate. Fundamentally, net neutrality is about equal access to the Internet. In our view, the broadband carriers should not be permitted to use their market power to discriminate against competing applications or content. Just as telephone companies are not permitted to tell consumers who they can call or what they can say, broadband carriers should not be allowed to use their market power to control activity online. Today, the neutrality of the Internet is at stake as the broadband carriers want Congress’s
permission to determine what content gets to you first and fastest. Put simply, this would fundamentally alter the openness of the Internet.”
* As cited on http://www.google.com/help/netneutrality.html
What will happen if there is no legislated net neutrality?
Information and services would only be available to those who could pay.
Colleges, coffee shops and other places would stop offering free internet because they would not be able to afford it.
Student Technology fees would drastically rise to help cover schools’ costs.
People would stop posting blogs, videos and photos because they could not afford to thus limiting information available on the internet.
The internet would become a medium for censorship based on economic class
Corporations & Big Media would control all the information put on the internet.
Current Legislation that would protect Net Neutrality:
Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2008 (HR 5353).
“The goal of this bipartisan legislation is to assure consumers, content providers, and high tech innovators that the historic, open architecture nature of the Internet will be preserved and fostered. H.R. 5353 is designed to assess and promote Internet freedom for consumers and content providers. Internet freedom generally embodies the notion that consumers and content providers should be free to send, receive, access and use the lawful applications, content, and services of their choice on broadband networks, possess the effective right to attach and use non-harmful devices to use in conjunction with their broadband services, and that content providers not be subjected to unreasonably discriminatory practices by broadband network providers. “
As cited on http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3268&Itemid=141
More Reading on Net Neutrality:
1.http://www.pbs.org/moyers/moyersonamerica/net/neutrality.html
3.www.openinternetcoalition.com/
4.http://www.eff.org/
5.http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080116-leaked-memo-time-warner-cable-to-trial-hard-bandwidth-caps.html
6.http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=4215191&page=1
7.http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=1421497
