Net neutrality is a principle that all broadband networks (DSL, Cable internet, dial up…) should be neutral and free of restrictions, which means broadband providers (Comcast, ATT, Verizon, Time Warner….) have to treat all sites, contents, applications, platforms, and devices that connect to their networks equal. For instance, under net neutrality provision, Comcast cannot assign higher value to Google and make it easier for their subscribers to access google.com while they assign a lower value to http://moussadao.com, therefore making it hard for their subscribers to access http://moussadao.com.

Why is net neutrality important?

Without net neutrality, it would probably have been impossible to have sites such as Google, Facebook, twitter, Youtube.com. At their early stages, these sites could have been assigned lower value by broadband providers; therefore broadband providers could have restricted access to these sites and make it hard for subscribers to access them. If access to Google was restricted and google.com was slow to load, mostly likely no one would have used Google.com; therefore we could have never known how good Google search is.

Net neutrality encourages innovation on the internet. It allows entrepreneurs around the globe to focus on creating the next Google, Facebook, and twitter without worrying about broadband providers’ restrictions.

Without net neutrality, broadband providers can make it difficult to access certain type of contents (such as videos, movies and music download…) on their networks. Or they could charge extra (or premium) to access and visit these sites.

What is happening to net neutrality?

The FCC is currently in the middle of debating the future on net neutrality and wants to extend net neutrality to wireless broadband connections.  But, opponents of net neutrality are fighting hard. The nation’s largest telephone and cable companies (ATT, Verizon, Comcast, Time Warner…) want to get rid of net neutrality and be the internet gatekeepers, deciding which web sites go fast or slow and which won’t load at all. They are putting presser on the FCC to not extend the net neutrality provision. 

On the other hand, Google, Amazon.com, Facebook, twitter, and many other corporations and not-for-profit organizations are fighting to preserve net neutrality.

While the Bush administration had taken side with the nation’s largest telephone and cable companies, President Obama is committed to the notion of net neutrality.

If you care about the internet, care about your freedom on the internet, want to see more innovations, continue to access any sites without any restrictions, and want to preserve the internet, join the flight to preserve net neutrality.

• Contact your congressman and senator to voice your support for net neutrality.
• Sign the petition by Save the Internet.

Additional readings about net neutrality
Save The Internet
Net neutralilty wikipidia
Google Blog