When you go online you have certain expectations. You expect to be connected to whatever website you want. You expect that your cable or phone company isn’t messing with the data, and is connecting you to all websites, applications and content you choose. You expect to be in control of your Internet experience.
Net Neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers must treat all data on the Internet the same. They cannot charge differently as a result of the user, content, website, platform, application, type of attached equipment, or method of communication. For example under these principles, Internet service providers are unable block, slow down, or charge money for specific websites and online content. Here are five things everyone should know about Net Neutrality:
1.
Net Neutrality
governs the entire internet: By
keeping the Web neutral, these regulations ensure that every site is accessible
at the same speed. One service can't pay to load faster than another one. Internet
service providers can't block specific sites or make subscribers pay more to
access them. Every business and every consumer has the same access to the Internet.
2.
Internet
service providers will be raking in the money without Net Neutrality: Without neutrality regulations, Internet Service Providers
(ISPs) can create tiers of service to access different sites and can charge
businesses more for faster speeds. For ISPs, net neutrality is a benefit. Most
service providers argue that they should be able to charge more for sites that
require more, like high speeds or busy traffic.
3.
Net Neutrality could
hurt small businesses: If ISPs can block sites or make them
more expensive to maintain, it could negatively impact small businesses. Sites
that gain popularity by word of mouth can start with a small audience. They
might suffer.
“Net
neutrality keeps the playing field level. For instance, Netflix can't
pay to load faster than Hulu.” (Jonathan
Nackstrand)
4.
Net Neutrality could
mean fewer businesses and less competition: Think
of Facebook — it's a giant of the web now, but back when it was first
getting started it was run entirely out of a college campus. Without Net Neutrality,
it might not have made it. New businesses could be out in the future.
5.
Net Neutrality
could be bad for consumers, too: Those
potential tiered packages, uncompetitive prices, or increased membership costs
will cost customers more, regardless of what their using to access the Web.
“The goal of the Web is to serve humanity. We build it now so that
those who come to it later will be able to create things that we cannot
ourselves imagine. “(Tim Berners-Lee) [i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“5 Things
You Need to Know about Net Neutrality” by Eliza Mills
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