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Net Neutrality

In: Computers and Technology

Submitted By retwist
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Are you in favor of legislation enforcing network neutrality? Why or why not?
I am in favor of legislation enforcing network neutrality. As stated in the first CNET news video, without legislation broadband providers would be able to block or slow down access to certain applications or websites on the internet and it would essentially turn into what we see our cable companies in the US doing. I cannot tolerate the way our cable companies operate in the US and refuse to pay for such a service. Cable providers have turned into a closed system where they control or have a say in all of the content that you view.
Without net neutrality, internet service providers would be able to charge excess fees to larger companies that require more data use and would essentially hurt the customer. It would hurt the customer because with these larger companies like Netflix and Amazon having to pay excess fees, they would be forced to put the burden of those fees on us, the customers. No net neutrality will hurt future online companies trying to emerge into successful businesses. Online businesses will become scarce due to high barriers being introduced by internet service providers. This is not something I want to see happen. I personally do a lot of business online. Selling products on eBay, purchasing products from other websites.
One of the few fears I do have about this new net neutrality bills is how it will affect the way the internet operates down the road. With the internet currently not being regulated by anybody, it is continually growing by the minute. One of the WGBH News videos with Dan Primack, has a theory that this will slow down the growth of bandwidth speed. This will not be a good outcome for the future in my opinion. We are going to need to continue to boost or capabilities of data transfer rates. We rely on more data today than we have and it will continue to do so with the demand for high quality media on the web.
As Ajit Pai stated in his interview on Reason.tv, implementing FCC regulations will also create startup barriers for newer online businesses. Due to them having to follow these certain sets of regulations, it limits innovation which is one of the only advantages small businesses have when trying to take on and compete with big business.
At first, I was very much in favor of net neutrality from the short term outcomes, but after viewing more videos and doing a little more research, the long term outcomes and possibilities kind of altered my decision a bit, due to fears of this possibly coming back to hurting the consumers in the end. Net neutrality should always focus on giving the consumers as much as it can. The consumers are the reason the internet has become as popular and reliably used as it is today and the consumers should always be first priority.

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