Net Neutrality

     My basic understanding of network neutrality is that it's an idea or belief that the Internet should remain free of government or corporate restrictions and that all packets should be treated equally. However, there is a big debate on the exact meaning of net neutrality and if the government should be brought in to place broad regulations over the Internet in an attempt to keep net neutrality alive.

     At this point the big concern is that ISPs (corporations) are possibly looking to filter or slow data they don't want going through their networks and limiting what the consumers on their networks may have access to. For example (this is hypothetical), Charter and Comcast are both cable companies with TV being the main service offered. So to encourage customers that have only Internet to start paying for TV as well, they may slow down video streaming to those costumers or charge them more for it. Other concerns are out there as well, such as limiting voice and video chat over the Internet by ISPs like AT&T or Verizon or ISPs limiting which search engine you can use, making it difficult or impossible to get to websites like Google or Bing.

     With talk of this happening, I can see why a lot are getting worked up, but to invite the government in to regulate yet another part of our lives, just in case... No, thank you! If or when things like this do start happening, I feel the market can help to correct the problem by people like myself, that would just switch to a different ISP.

     Also in some ways this is already happening, at least when it comes to speeds. I can pay less monthly and get a slower speed, or I can pay more and get a higher speed. I'm fine with this, and, in fact, I like it that I have a choice in speeds and in ISPs. Some companies are known for slowing down P2P connections used in things like Lime Wire or Bit Torrent. Still, I don't want the government to step in until it has to, if it ever does.