Net Neutrality

Net Neutrality

According to Google, “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.” As with any issue, there are always at least two sides of the issue. In this case, one side is for the freedom of the Internet and is led by the Open Internet Coalition and Save the Internet.com groups. On the other side of the argument are broadband providers and telecommunications companies.
Is net neutrality a new issue? The same issues were examined when the telegraph was our means of communication. According to Wikipedia, “In 1860, a US federal law subsidizing a coast-to-coast telegraph line stated that…
…messages received from any individual, company, or corporation, or from any telegraph lines connecting with this line at either of its termini, shall be impartially transmitted in the order of their reception, excepting that the dispatches of the government shall have priority.
They further mention the fact that in 1888, an automatic telephone exchange was created to eliminate biasing by telephone operators who would divert unsuspecting callers to preferred businesses.
This demonstrates the drive to keep the Internet free and neutral. Companies such as Google have thrived due to the neutrality of the Internet. Some would say that due to these same companies, the Internet has thrived. Supporters of this view say that without laws to protect the neutrality of the Internet, some content and/or content providers could be blocked or degraded by the companies providing the access.
Telecommunication companies have invested heavily on the infrastructure and “backbone” used by its customers to access the Internet. They are in a catch 22 scenario in which customers demand high-speed service while they cannot restrict those who use extremely high bandwidths that reduce speed to other customers. They would like those that use high bandwidths to pay extra, allowing them to invest more money into the architecture to increase bandwidth.
This is an issue that will be debated by both sides for years to come. What is going to be the outcome is anybody’s guess. We can only state that both sides have valid concerns that need to be addressed.