What is Net Neutrality?

Net neutrality is the assurance that you will have both access to the Internet and that content will not be blocked, slowed down, or sped up depending on where that access is based or who owns the access points.  Net neutrality is essential to free speech, equal opportunity, and innovation.

There has been much debate about the Government regulating the Internet?  Net neutrality has given us the ability to communicate with people all over the world in order to do our jobs, go to school, or for personal enjoyment.  This access has been provided without any restrictions. With Net Neutrality, the network's only job is to move data -- not to choose which data to privilege with higher quality service.

The bill that has been presented to Congress on Net Neutrality is H.R. 3458 Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2009.  I have attached the link for this bill.
 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:7:./temp/~c111kj7cfc::


Congress now appears less likely to pass the bill during this session because the lawmakers are unable to come to consensus on key provisions.  The current stumbling blocks include questions on how broadband access rules should apply to wireless networks.  There is some agreement however for the basic rules that would forbid a wireless service provider from blocking a competing application such as voiceover Internet calls. 

Internet Regulation Debate

Monday, September 20, 2010

Internet Regulation Debate

I'm new to the blogging world so please be patient with me.  The purpose of this blog is to discuss the debate that is taking place regarding Internet regulation.  I'm not sure which area of this I will focus on right now but as the weeks continue my focus will narrow.  The Government is not currently involved in Internet regulation however there is much debate on how much involvement our Government will have in the near future.

Part of the debate on this issue focuses on Do we really want the Government to step into regulating the Internet?  What effects will it have?  Will this affect technological improvements?  Will the Government be screening everything you see?  Will this affect the Internet providers and how?  The list goes on and on........

So as the weeks/months unfold I will be sharing more detailed information regarding the current debate.

Internet Regulation Debate

I'm new to the blogging world so please be patient with me.  The purpose of this blog is to discuss the debate that is taking place regarding Internet regulation.  I'm not sure which area of this I will focus on right now but as the weeks continue my focus will narrow.  The Government is not currently involved in Internet regulation however there is much debate on how much involvement our Government will have in the near future.

Part of the debate on this issue focuses on Do we really want the Government to step into regulating the Internet?  What effects will it have?  Will this affect technological improvements?  Will the Government be screening everything you see?  Will this affect the Internet providers and how?  The list goes on and on........

So as the weeks/months unfold I will be sharing more detailed information regarding the current debate.

INTRODUCTION

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently voted to begin the formal process of bringing the Internet under greater federal governmental control – a move that was sought by both President Obama and the FCC.

The FCC is trying to reclassify the Internet to broaden its authority over the Web.  The Internet is currently classified as an information service and the government has little power in regulating the network.  By reclassifying the Internet as a telecommunications service, such as a telephone network, the Internet would fall under a much broader regulatory scope.