Today's FCC vote on Net Neutrality prompted me to revisit this post, originally published in August 2010. Thank you to Shoq Value (@shoq) for retweeting it. I'll be doing the same, undoubtedly, once I dig into your blog.
There’s been a lot of talk about Net Neutrality, and a lot of people who don’t know what it is. Including, until recently, me.
Net Neutrality means equal access to all users of the Internet, whether the user is a high-school student in an inner-city library or a CEO of a huge corporation. Abolishing Net Neutrality would mean that communications corporations could charge users more for heavy Internet traffic or if they want extra services.
What’s the big deal, you say? Don’t we do that already with ground mail delivery and overnight air delivery? Basic cable and premium cable?
Yes, we are. Then ask yourself this. Is the value of your premium cable package worth the extra dollars you pay for it? Has the quality of your basic cable package gone down while the price has gone up?
Here’s another way to look at it. When you’re stuck in traffic, what would be the better overall solution: Let drivers pay extra to drive solo in the carpool lane? Or improve road and transportation service so we can all get there on time?
Does the price of first-class air travel keep you stuck flying coach? Abolishing Net Neutrality means those Internet users who pay extra get first-class fare, the rest get a bag of peanuts.
Or maybe you can’t afford to board the plane in the first place. Many people in underserved areas have no access at all. Equalizing Internet access accomplishes what few issues are able to do: unite inner city and rural outpost.
We'll all be left standing at the gate if Net Neutrality is abolished.
Here’s a good description of what Net Neutrality is and why it matters. If you missed the FCC vote on Net Neutrality, The UpTake has it on replay.
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