Discussing Net Neutrality
Category: Net Neutrality
Nathan Denny, Aplus.Net
There’s an important debate going on in the Internet world today. It’s called “net neutralityâ€â€”a simple name for a complex issue.
There’s already been a lot of talk, and controversy, surrounding this topic, so there’s a good chance you may have already heard about it. But for the benefit of those who haven’t, it’s important enough to run through again quickly:
Net neutrality is a general term for legislation in the U.S. Congress that would apply “common carrier rules†to Internet service providers (ISPs) and broadband carriers. In other words, ISPs would be required to manage all Internet traffic on equal terms and ensure that all web content remains equally accessible to all users.
If the net neutrality provisions fail, service providers will have the ability to give priority or preference to specific companies and their websites—a power they don’t currently have.
A lot of the argument against net neutrality comes from free-market principles. These principles suggest that the ISPs have the inherent privilege of dictating how service provided, because they are the ones providing it. Just like a television station can choose to show one program and not another, ISPs (net neutrality opponents argue) should have the ability to provide what they want.
So what’s wrong with that? Big name companies with large revenues will be able to pay for service, while free community-based sites (such as Craigslist) would be overshadowed. Although it’s true that Craigslist is large enough at this point that they may not be damaged by these new rules, the free Web environment that allowed them to be created would be gone. There would very likely be no new sites like Craigslist.
Aplus.Net has publicly endorsed net neutrality provisions. Aplus.Net’s official statement on net neutrality can be found here.
Find a much more detailed discussion of this topic here.
Tim Berners Lee does a great job of simplifying what net neutrality means:
“If I pay to connect to the Net with a certain quality of service, and you pay to connect with that or greater quality of service, then we can communicate at that level.”
There’s plenty of room for free market with that model, and we see that everyday in what ISP’s offer: $19.95 per month for 1.5 Mbs, $49.95 for 5Mbs, etc.
Abandoning a net neutral landscape would not only be a blow to the folks publishing websites, it would also be a blow to the folks that wish to read those sites — they can’t be guaranteed a quality of service. Only the amazons of the world would have that guarantee.
This century trade mark is already set
COMMUNICATION=INTERNET=GLOBALISATION
Like any other human evolution, it is necessary to have rules to insure the principles of democracy….
Equal chances, equal benefits for all…
So far, Internet carries all the characteristics of its creators…
Its a commerce tool, rather than what it deserves to be by its own principles: a communication tool…
What are the obstacles?
The fact that with money you can buy truth and sell it back with profit…
Internet turns to be a tool of a self feeding community of privileged ones
when it should be mostly a life education tool to make democracy , legality and knowledge , world values for freedom and well being….
Thanks Aplus for supporting Net Neutrality. It makes me proud to have my site hosted by you. This is an important issue, since the internet has been such a vital source of true news, socialization, and access to resources for free or little price. I imagine there could be a civil uprising of the likes we’ve never seen if the big corporations were to take over the internet as proposed. I don’t think that the people would take this lying down…
Jimmy
Simply “Congratulations” on the Blog!
Will consult it and contribute as I can.
Proud to be an A+.net fan and customer since ‘99.
Truly,
Elle
A new customer, very pleased that I picked Aplus. So pleased you’ve been active in this debate. It’s rare and commendable for a business to even think about taking a political stand publicly. Nice job!
Just an added comment on net neutrality:
Our constitutional approach to “free enterprise” in other places in society gives each of us the right to equal footing in things. If someone wants to develop things to the thirtymillion dollars..that’s fine and it’s equally fine to keep a quiet little free-access gallery of art and writings like mine.
“Net Neutrality” is the same sort of concept…..and is a very basic concept to internet health.
Aplus.net, thanks for your stand on net neutrality….how can we help?
It is election time….I use eBay for some of my arts benefit sales at Giving Works and eBay had us send a pro-net neutrality thing to our .gov reps…you can too,no?
thanks again
elle
… me gustaria que pusieseis una traducción en español … ganariais muchos clientes de españa y sud america.
Congratulations. It just gets better and better. Corporate muscle should not over-ride individual enterprise.Net neutrality must be defended.