The Importance Of Net Neutrality

When it comes to the topic of net neutrality, most scholars agree that it is harmful to the advancement of the internet. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of the extent of the ISP’s power to regulate the internet. Whereas some scholars are convinced that net neutrality is paramount to the internet’s growth, others maintain that the internet service providers have a right to regulate the very service they provide. This paper explores reasons for maintaining net neutrality and the power ISP’s should have while also asserting that net neutrality is essential for users to spread unhampered information without interference.

Net neutrality is publicly accessible information and transfer of that information. The public foundations of travel and communication (e.g., taxis, subways, phone companies) are not allowed to discriminate, or restrict common access, and this is the basic notion behind net neutrality as well. In 2005 two major actions dramatically changed the regulatory landscape as it applied to broadband services, further fueling the net neutrality debate. In both cases these actions led to the broadband Internet access services being subjected to a less rigorous regulatory framework. June 2005 upheld the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) 2002 ruling that the providing of cable modem service is an interstate information service and is therefore subject to the less strict regulatory regime(Gilroy). The FCC also adopted a policy statement outlining principles to encourage broadband deployment and preserve and promote the open and interconnected nature of the public Internet:

“(1) consumers are entitled to access the lawful Internet content of their choice; (2) consumers are entitled to run appl...

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Revoking net neutrality would prevent the information of the web from being tampered or hindered with. The anti-net neutrality argument is that ISPs should be able to allocate their resources and establish business partnerships however they deem fit, and allowing the FCC to regulate how they do business would actually stifle innovation. If net neutrality is revoked allow ISPs to allocate more bandwidth to the platforms and publishers that need it most — the Googles and Netflixes of the world — thus making for a more smoothly functioning Internet. A free and open internet is the single greatest technology of our culture, and control should not be at the mercy of corporations. The dwindling of net neutrality would mean the end of an equal opportunity marketplace for startup websites to build their foundation and users to spread information without interference.