Net neutrality

Description:

Network neutrality is the principle that Internet users should be in control of what content they view and what applications they use on the Internet. The Internet has operated according to this neutrality principle since its earliest days. Indeed, it is this neutrality that has allowed many companies, to launch, grow, and innovate. Fundamentally, net neutrality is about equal access to the Internet. In the view of some people, the carriers should not be permitted to use their market power to discriminate against competing applications or content. Just as telephone companies are not permitted to tell consumers who they can call or what they can say, broadband carriers should not be allowed to use their market power to control activity online. [1] Carriers on the other hand would like to protect themselves against the abuses of some high-bandwidth users and would like to offer tiered services so that everyone can afford accessing the Internet.

Enablers:

• Net neutrality law

• Public awareness

Inhibitors

• Rising bandwith costs
• Bandwith shortages
• Spammers
• Abusive peer-to-peer file sharing
• Net Piracy

Paradigms:

• The internet should be kept widely available and neutral for everyone. Denying net neutrality could jeopardize the current status of the internet and the freedom of choice.

• The growing use of bandwidth consumption by services as video on demand and voip increase the load on communication lines owned by companies. The success of an internet site should not cause another company (ex ISP) large expenses.

Timing:

• 1983, TCP/IP was deployed

Web Resources:

Google net neutrality

Save the internet

Cnet article "Rally against net neutrality"