Network Neutrality is the fundemental building block on which the web has formed throughout the years. It is the unbiased and unregulated nature of the web that yeilds the great opurtunity for the novice and power user alike.

“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, including Google, to launch, grow, and innovate. Fundamentally, net neutrality is about equal access to the Internet. In our view, the broadband 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. Today, the neutrality of the Internet is at stake as the broadband carriers want Congress’s permission to determine what content gets to you first and fastest. Put simply, this would fundamentally alter the openness of the Internet.” Google

Recently, Internet Service Provider Comcast has introduced a new experimental business model in which they regulate the amount of bandwidth their users can access. The subscription allows for 40 GB of bandwidth per month. Clients using more than the alotted 40 GB will pay a penalty fee for exceeding their bandwidth.

There have also been rumors of ISP’s regulating what websites can be accessed by having a tiered system. For example $19.00 a month and you get access to 200 major sites such as Google, MSN, Myspace similar to cable television packages. These models are very bad because they make it harder for the do it yourself site admin to be sucessful online.

Do not support Comcast or any ISPs that regulate your traffic.

Filed under: Internet