Blog 13: Net Neutrality

The underlying issue of the net neutrality debate is simply the arguement whether the web should be available to everyone on an equal level, much like the phone network, or if providers should be allowed control traffic, much like cable tv. Content providers such as Google and political extremists are examples of pro-neutrality supporters. For content providers, their business is to provide customers with equal access to the web. They would like to provide equal service at high quality to keep their customers happy. Political or religious extremists are in favor of net neutrality because they are affraid of the posibilities that their messages may be sensored. On the other hand, telecomunications companies such as AT&T and libertarian groups are against net neutrality. For telecomunications companies, an open system would mean that they have to treat all customers and sites with equality and that they may be doing all the work while not making the profit. For libertarian groups, they see net neutrality as unneccesary government intervention that stiffles innovation. Personaly I am pro-net neutrality because I believe that the internet should provide equal information to all. Additionally, the posibilities of monopolization or government interference if the web became a closed system is even more scary than the arguement that keeping it neutral would be unneccesary government intervention.