Assignment 4: Thoughts on Net Neutrality

Net neutrality is the idea that all websites and web surfers are treated equally in all aspects of their internet use. The pros on this issue strongly outweigh the cons. For example, net neutrality allows every user of the internet surf the web at the same speed as any other person making discrimination impossible. On the other hand, the main con pertaining to the net neutrality is that internet providers, such as Verizon and AT&T, believe they are missing out on money to be made. Telecommunications companies would be able to charge websites to stream videos without net neutrality which would then be deferred to the website users to pay the fee every time we watched a YouTube video for example. This is because streaming sites, such as YouTube and Skype, take up a lot of bandwidth where text and images take up far less because the amount of time they need to load it far less. However, smaller websites having to pay a fee may not be able to make it and there are thousands and thousands of websites on the world wide web. Therefore, those not in favor of net neutrality are those looking to capitalize on it and those who aren't is the everyday users of the internet and people who have smaller websites to run. Recently net neutrality has been in the news because the FCC is trying to stabilize net neutrality although the federal appeals court ruled that the FCC does not have the power to enforce such rules. Many see the abolition of net neutrality as an issue of freedom of speech because it will no longer allow people to use the internet freely. Groundbreaking innovations have gotten to where they are today because of net neutrality and without it we will stunt the creative flow that a neutral net allows. If laws are passed to allow internet providers have a strict rule over the internet this will directly affect me in multiple ways. There will be slower internet connection, I might have to pay to watch videos online or Skype with a friend, and if I was to start a website I would have to pay for that as well. I personally think that net neutrality is essential because the internet is no place to discriminate against anyone who isn't rich because we all pay enough for our computers and connection services as it is. The internet is a place of innovation and like one man said in the video, many ideas would never be hatched due to the fear of huge internet bills.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/opinion/sunday/the-fcc-tries-again.html?ref=netneutrality
This article called The FCC Tries Again discusses the role of the FCC in net neutrality. I found it particularly helpful because I wasn't clear from the other articles whether the FCC was in support of net neutrality or against it.

http://money.cnn.com/2014/02/27/technology/open-internet/
This article called New Chapter Begins in Net Neutrality Fight examines the roles of telecommunications companies in the fight against net neutrality. This article looks at the issue from the side of the commercial mind set and shows how a few main players and going to have massive unconstrained power while shareholders sit back and capitalize.