The subject of Net Neutrality is a hot topic in the US today with the recent defeat of backers who have been campaigning to ensure that net neutrality is protected by law.
- But what is net neutrality?
Internet service is currently neutral with the companies who own the cables which web data travels through serving up all sites, from small start ups, home businesses to the behemoth Google, all at the same speed. But with the recent debate surrounding the Cope act cable companies want to offer faster delivery to sites which pay extra, such as video downloading and internet telephone call providers.
- How did this debate come about?
For us here in the UK this act may have little direct significance but the main issue we must take note of is that this act aims to make it easier for telecoms firms in the US to offer video services around America by replacing over 30,000 local franchise boards with a national system overseen by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), who have recently ripped up their rules governing Net Neutrality. These companies want to introduce a two tier system to the internet where data from companies and institutions that can pay are given priority over those who can not; the introduction of digital or broadband TV has highlighted the toughest battleground with broadband providers wanting to charge content providers directly to carry their data.
The introduction of this act according to opposition speaker Nancy Pelosi, a House Democratic leader, will mean, "Telecommunications and cable companies will be able to create toll lanes on the information superhighway." Pelosi went on to add: "This strikes at the heart of the free and equal nature of the internet."
In a recent National Public Radio interview Declan McCullagh, chief political correspondent from CNET.com, commented that, "All bits should be treated equally, all websites should be treated equally." He continues to outline that "Companies that provide broadband service, largely broadband and cable providers, should not be restricting access to certain sites, should not be favouring some sites over others, should not be pulling this kind of marketing scheme."
- What is happening now?
With the debate reaching the senate, backers have been active in seeking support for the campaign. Meg Whitman, eBay chief executive, emailed more than one million members of the auction site asking them to back the idea of net neutrality. Google boss Eric Schmidt called on staff at the search giant to support the idea. Sites such as 'Save The Internet' and 'It's Our Net' have gained a strong online following since the ending of net neutrality rules with impressive petition figures and a strategic blog campaign.
- What does this mean for us and the impact of net neutrality?
For us in the UK we may not think that this legislation or debate may have an immediate effect on the internet as we know it - but is this a wise approach? It is known through experience that even though the US no longer has the majority of internet users, business practices, technologies and laws which are made over the pond do tend to have an impact on the rest of the world.
For example, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, a US law designed to protect the interests of large media organisations, resulted in the incredibly publicised and horrendously restrictive EU Copyright Directive.
Do we want this is happen again? Here in the UK we must be aware of this legislation and its far reaching impact. We must lend our support for our beliefs and, along with Tim Berners-Lee, we should understand that the internet will defend against attempts to fragment and stay as one internet.
