Net Neutrality
I2Q March 2015 editorial – (PART 1)

Lately, blogs and the Corporate Media having been talking about something called ”Net Neutrality”. Some are in favor of what´s called “Net Neutrality” while others are lobbying lawmakers against it. Some say, the rights of everyone´s access to the internet is at stake while others say that corporations should have a right to seek profits and conduct business as they see fit. Where is the healthy balance between the rights of internet users and large corporations? And what is exactly “Net Neutrality”?

I think that the media has not clarified this subject at all. They all seem to have different opinions on what net neutrality is and the impact of any ruling on the subject. Most of the “documentaries” (maybe I should call them faux-documentaries), no matter how well produced, on the subject lack content and come across as ads for corporate or political interests. Many bloggers give their opinions but do not know what they are talking about. So let me try to clear up some of the confusion and hopefully inform you. Here is net neutrality in a nutshell.

The internet is a growing, massive brain of circulating information broken into data packets that circulate endlessly all over the world. I say brain because it also helps us in our daily lives. From GPS to calendars and schedules to our machines and so much more, the internet has become an essential part of our everyday lives.

It´s used by so many people in so many different ways but at the core it is a massive communication network. One author stated that in ancient days a wealthy land owner might require 30 slaves to run his day to day affairs while the modern person has the equivalent of 150 slaves thanks to the computer / internet revolution and some argue that that number is still growing.

Growing Data Packet Traffic and Node Cost Problems for ISPs:

The internet is provided by what is called (ISP) or internet service providers. Companies such as Verizon, Comcast, AT&T and Time Warner Cable are ISPs and are an important link in the chain that is our internet service. Our data packets pass through many nodes in the brain that is the internet and the question remains of who will pay for the traffic at all the different nodes? Keep in mind that the ISPs might only represent one or a few of those nodes in the path of the data packet.

There is also the question of the ever-growing internet traffic. When the internet started traffic was manageable. Now however it has grown exponentially with the number of users and smart phone use, videos and streaming movies. In short, we have more and more internet users who are sending more and more data and the question the ISPs ask is who will pay for this? And how will the ISPs make a profit from this booming industry? Many large corporations from different sectors of business are looking for ways to make money from this gigantic ocean of internet users. This is a gi-normous market of voters and consumers from all walks of life which big business would like to control.

Net Neutrality Definition:

As the internet is set up now, those data packets circulate, more or less, at the same speed with the same type of restrictions. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) do not discriminate against the data packets. Net neutrality is this circulation of data packets without discrimination.

Discrimination of data packet traffic might be based on whether it was an individual or large corporation (who might be paying the ISP). So a large corporation that might be paying the ISP would have faster, less censored internet than the individual at home or small business owner.

End of Part 1

 (Commentary by www.ink2quill.com )
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