April 10, 2006 | In Technology, Politics |
As internet service providers throughout the developed world work to expand their networks and develop exciting new services and technologies, they are in danger of sacrificing one of the key concepts that make the web what it is today: net neutrality.
Net neutrality is a principle stating that all internet data traffic should be able to travel freely through cyberspace, routed over an ISPs core network at the same speed. Without this essential cornerstone principle, the big internet service providers could essentially control the comings and goings of all internet traffic, and use this control for their own competitive purposes, ultimately leading to the demise of free enterprise on the internet as we know it.
A big telecom carrier could drive a smaller, cheaper, and more innovative competitor like Skype or Vonage out of business, by charging them exorbitant network access fees for their data usage. High traffic websites could also be subject to extra fees from their ISP, due to high data usage.
Preserving the essence net neutrality seems to be one thing that is supported, at least in theory, by virtually everyone who uses the web, from big internet giants like Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft, to small-time webmasters, and internet users. It is easy to recognize that throwing every bit of internet activity on the mercy of a few companies will create an unfair and non-competitive network hierarchy. This could only serve to damage innovative spirit, as well as the internet’s integrity as a free enterprise environment.
It is not, however, up to governments to legislate on this issue, as some have suggested. In the years to come it will be up to web users and content businesses themselves to stand up for what is right in the long term on this issue, and help service providers realize that the internet’s integrity and independence is too important to be sacrificed for the sake of short-term profits gouging.
[…] The bill did not, however, include a provision to protect the principal of net neutrality, and stop telecom providers from creating a paid “fast lane” for preferential internet traffic. Without such a restriction, consumer advocates worry that ISPs could demand payment from high traffic websites, and effectively drive competitors, including VoIP providers and internet video companies out of business. […]
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[…] In a deliberate mockery of net neutrality, U.S. House Representative, Charles Gonzalez, a Democrat from Texas, has proposed that the principle be applied not only to Internet Service Providers, but also to the internet itself. […]
Pingback by Counter-Amendment Seeks to Ridicule Net Neutrality Legislation » Jeremy Maddock — June 10, 2006 #