Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Gone

If net neutrality goes away, it will fundamentally change everything about the Internet.” (James Hilton)

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, tooThose 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” bEliza Mills

·        “Net Neutrality: What You Need to Know Now” (https://www.savetheinternet.com/net-neutrality-what-you-need-know-now)

·        “Net Neutrality” from Wikipedia

 

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