Advocating for Net Neutrality (Part 1 of 3)

I remember being in my Mass Communications and Society class giving a speech on net neutrality and trying to persuade my classmates to join the coalition for a free Internet. It was something that I was passionate about, but as I looked at the blank stares across the rows of students, I came to realize that most didn’t even know what net neutrality was at that time.

Net neutrality? Well, just think about every time you log onto the Internet and go to your favorite websites. The speed and functionality of each site and application is equal, whether it’s a video, email or instant message chat. There is no blocking of one website for another when you search and if you’re the next garage-made, tech-millionaire in the works, well, you have as good as chance as anyone.

Net neutrality protects the Internet as a free and open platform. The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) net neutrality guidelines call for protecting the Internet from providers that would like to control content, applications and speed of Internet usage. The guidelines are in place because some Internet providers would like to slow down or block content and applications from their competitors or even charge to have the fastest content and applications.

I’ll use the age-old analogy; think of the Internet as a highway. Right now we all get to travel in the fast lanes and enjoy the scenery. Even a start-up Internet company has an equal lane with, say, Amazon.com. If Internet providers start charging for the fast lane and blocking or slowing the other lanes by installing tollbooths with high charges, then the only people cruising in the fast lane will be the big companies able to shell out the big bucks. Does that sound like a fair trade?

Now you may be wondering why the girl from editorial is giving the 101 on the freedom of the Internet. Well, net neutrality may be in trouble, and I’ll give you the answer, but you’re going to have to stay tuned.