Net Neutrality
Thursday, October 8, 2009 by finn
Net Neutrality refers to the principle that ISPs should not discriminate between online content. This is to be achieved through regulations, creating a neutral broadband network that is free of restriction.
It seems important to target our cynicism about 'big business' towards the telecommunications companies, where their opposition to Net Neutrality might represent an emergent 'gatekeeper' role. The ISPs could create artificial scarcity through controlling data, and offer broadband plans which customers may feel obliged to buy into, commodifying the freedom of information existent on the internet. With the throttling of bandwidth for different websites, popular websites might be faster than niche websites. This could be seen as the ISP extracting bribes from web-developers so that their website is not slowed down.
However, top-down enforcing of broadband providers may be unnecessary, as the free market could determine what plans are offered.
The concerns of the proponents of Net Neutrality do seem worrying. I would rather regulations be implemented now than face a potential future in which all broadband plans are tiered service models.