Network Neutrality
Network (Net) Neutrality represents the moral compass of a free and open Internet. It means no censorship and no discrimination. Net Neutrality stops Internet providers from blocking, speeding up or slowing down web material on the criteria of its source, ownership or destination.
Net Neutrality is behind the evolution of the Internet and what the reason why it’s what makes the world go around. The Internet has unquestionably fostered economic innovation, non-discriminatory participation and online free speech. It means that consumer may use her/his internet compatible equipment, content and the use of any application or service on a non-discriminatory basis with no editing or input from the network provider. The whole point of network neutrality is that the network has one task: to facilitate the movement of data. The deal does not allow network providers to cherry pick which data to move about with higher quality service.
Opposition to Network Neutrality
The country’s telecommunications companies want to police the Internet so they can determine which web sites should be loaded first and last or not at all. The companies include some of biggest and most powerful: AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and Time Warner.
These companies want to levy a tax on content providers which in turn will guarantee fast delivery of their data. They want to monopolize the industry and inhibit competitor speed and sustainability. It’s a way of ‘capturing an audience’ as the saying goes to use only their search engines, Internet phone services, and streaming video.
Big business phone and cable companies are putting out millions and millions of dollars appealing to Congress and the Federal Communications Commission to eradicate Network Neutrality. If that were to happen, the future of the Internet would be questionable indeed.
AT&T is one of the companies who have launched a costly campaign to deter proponents of a free and open Internet. Deceptive advertising tactics are used and unreliable information is disseminated through groups such as ‘Hands Off the Internet’ and NetCompetition.org.
