Neutral Bits: Network neutrality is a rising issue in our time that is rarely addressed by the media. The problem that stems from this is that most people do not understand or know what the concept of net neutrality is all about. It is an issue onset by the increase in our dependence on technology and the internet.
Black Screen: Network neutrality is best defined as “the principle that Internet users should be able to access any web content they choose and use any applications they choose, without restrictions or limitations imposed by their Internet service provider”
HuluYoutube: These mentioned applications can be anything on the internet, from streaming video on Youtube and Hulu to streaming audio to playing a video game over a network with numerous other people.
Cable companies: The opponents to network neutrality are the large telecom and cable companies such as Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Verizon. They want to increase their profits, even though it would be at the expense of their customers. What are they trying to do to change the internet? They are working towards turning the internet into superhighway with virtual tollbooths.
Webtoll_485: The most common explanation of the Internet is the comparison a superhighway with many lanes that can be traveled, and anyone can access these roads. Currently, large corporations and the common American citizen can access the internet and reach others in an equal manner. This could all be at risk in the near future, as the cable companies are working to instill virtual toll roads.
Toll plaza: If these phone and cable companies achieve their goal, the small time users of the internet would be put in the slow lane, whereas the large companies who can afford to pay for the ‘tolls’ would completely dominate what Internet users can access.
Net-neutrality-cartoon: The implementation of these virtual toll roads would lead to a lack of accessibility which would in turn lead to a lack of consumer choice and innovation/ Network neutrality could fix this issue by guaranteeing no preferential treatment and not allowing the small guys to be placed in the slow lanes.
Percent of population: The opponents of network neutrality hold their best argument in that American has the highest percentage of its population using the internet, compared to other regions of the world. However, what they fail to mention is how America has not seen the same growth since 2000 as other regions.
Percent Increase: This graph shows that America has the lowest increase in population usage of the internet in the world since 2000. So why would the cable companies be saying that we need to monitor bandwidth and that it is taking money out of their pockets? It does not make sense to have to alter the way we access the internet just so the cable companies can put an extra dollar in their pocket.
Problem doesn’t exist: The major cable companies want users of the internet to believe that proponents of network neutrality are working towards a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist. This simply is not the case, as video streaming is only in its infancy, and is expected to increase in quality and quantity in the upcoming years. Because of this, there is an expected desire by the cable companies to try to block and regulate this sort of content (especially television shows that they would prefer you to watch through their cable TV services).
Money: The Cable Companies are so interested in their own profit that they are willing to scrafice good customer relation in an effort to make an extra buck. A lack of network neutrality would reflect poorly on the businesses in our country as they would be hindering the ‘American Dream’ of aspiring writers and small businesses trying to make their way using the internet as an outlet, only to be put in the slow lane. This is a debate that will last for many years until something is resolved, and until then we can only hope that the internet does not turn into this:
TIERS
Credits
