Freedom of connection with any application to any party is the fundamental social basis of the

internet. And now, is the basis of the society built on the internet

Vol. III, No. 23, 12 June 2015

Net Neutrality: Saving the Internet

In May 2014, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler released a plan that would have allowed companies like AT&T,
Comcast and Verizon to discriminate online and create pay-to-play fast lanes. Millions spoke out and fought
back. Therefore, Wheeler shelved his original proposal, and on Feb. 4, 2015, he announced that he would
base new Net Neutrality rules on Title II of the Communications Act, giving Internet users the strongest
protections possible proving a watershed victory for activists who have fought for a decade to protect the
open Internet. Net Neutrality means an Internet that enables and protects free speech. It means that
Internet service providers should provide us with open networks and should not block or discriminate
against any applications or content that ride over those networks. Just as your phone company shouldn't
decide who you can call and what you say on that call, your ISP shouldn't be concerned with the content you
view or post online.

Net Neutrality is crucial for small business owners, startups and entrepreneurs, who rely on the open
Internet to launch their businesses, create a market, advertise their products and services, and distribute
products to customers. We need the open Internet to foster job growth, competition and innovation.Net
Neutrality lowers the barriers of entry for entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses by ensuring the Web
is a fair and level playing field. Its because of Net Neutrality that small businesses and entrepreneurs have
been able to thrive on the Internet. They use the Internet to reach new customers and showcase their
goods, applications and services. No company should be able to interfere with this open marketplace. ISPs
are by definition the gatekeepers to the Internet, and without Net Neutrality, they would seize every
possible opportunity to profit from that gatekeeper control. Without Net Neutrality, the next Google would
never get off the ground. The open Internet allows communities of color to tell their own stories and to
organize for racial and social justice. Lack of net neutrality, will spell doom for innovation on the web. It is
possible that ISPs will charge web companies to enable faster access to their websites. Those who don't pay
may see that their websites will open slowly. This means bigger companies like Google will be able to pay
more to make access to You tube or Google+ faster for web users but a startup that wants to create a
different and better video hosting site may not be able to do that.

Net neutrality is sort of gentlemen's agreement. It has survived so far because few people realized the
potential of internet when it took off around 30 years ago. But now when the internet is an integral part of
the society and incredibly important, ISPs across the world are trying to get the power to shape and control
the traffic. But there are ways to keep net neutrality alive


Written by: - Tanima Kad
Faculty, CBS
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Disclaimer: This Newsletter is prepared to enhance awareness and for information only. The
information is taken from sources believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed by Chitkara
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