Net Neutrality

What is "Net Neutrality"? Well, according to an article in PCWorld (August 31, 2010) by Paul Kapustka, he defines it as the act of blocking, degrading, or charging extra for legal content and applications on the Internet by Internet Service Providers (ISP). An Internet Service Provider could be in an agreement with another entity, such as an Internet search engine and can steer internet traffic to their site or search engine, or they could just block the service all together. They could even charge extra for downloading legal content and applications for services that you have already paid for, much like premium services for cable TV. However, the cable providers want to charge for the service of using their lines. The Federal Communications Commitee (FCC) sees this as an opportunity to finally regulate the Internet.

In an article by Grant Gross (IDG News Service, MacCentral  July 11, 2006) titled "Battle lines drawn over net neutrality"he states that large corporations like AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast, would go up against consumer groups and internet companies like Google and Amazon.com. The broadband providers argue that they need to explore new ways for next generation internet users.

One business plan to be considered is to charge e-commerce businesses for preferential routing to their site. AT&T CEO Ed Whitacre was quoted in Businessweek that Vonage and Google were using the "pipes for free". He went on to say that because they spent the capital for the pipes, they expect an return on their investment.

Recently, in a Reuters News article (updated 11/9/2011) President Obama stated he would veto any Congressional measure to overturn the internet traffic rules. The Federal Communications Committee forbid any broadband company from blocking or degrading any legal content, but providing companies to manage their networks effeciently for customers. However, the Republicans view this as a way for the Federal Communications Committee to use it's power to regulate the internet.

So net neutrality will probably remain rather nonexistant for now, no one wants to cause any real problems to give ammunition to the opposition. As far as the investments are concerned, the big corporations will always keep through big money into the internet. The wireless providers are already being proactive with charging more for the mobile services.