Net Neutrality Ensures the General

Net neutrality ensures the general freedom of the Internet. The principle of net neutrality suggests that the Internet should be a neutral forum on which ideas, information, services, entertainment and commerce should freely flow without intervention on the part of either government or the private sector. In an ideal state of net neutrality, no Internet service provider (ISP) can offer preferential treatment for some companies, some Internet applications, or some search engines over others. Net neutrality also means that governments generally do not impede the freedom of expression online. Of course, that which is illegal offline is necessarily illegal online. Thus, child pornography and scams that are illegal offline are likewise prohibited online while still remaining net-neutral.

Net neutrality also makes sure that access to the Internet is democratic. A student or a person of limited means can access the Internet for free at a public library and register for a free email account. Net neutrality means that all persons regardless of where they live, what language they speak, or how much money they make can get online. Those who do not have access to the Internet are significantly disadvantaged in terms of how they search for jobs, how they communicate with others, and even how they go shopping.

All users of the Internet benefit from net neutrality. However, some private companies would like consumers to believe that net neutrality does not benefit consumers. One way by which companies are attempting to impede net neutrality is by discriminating against (or for) certain Web sites. In their policy statement on net neutrality, Google refers to "carrier discrimination against Internet traffic," (Whitt). Discrimination on data or Internet traffic is a problem for several reasons. For example, the free Website MySpace allows independent bands to feature and sell their music. If an ISP restricts access to MySpace in favor of a fee-dependent music service, then independent musicians would suffer. Another problem with data discrimination is that search engines like Google might not yield the best information. It is one thing for Google to allow for advertisements in a separate section from search results. It is quite another for Google to only yield search results for paying customers.

Some ISPs claim that the consumer would benefit from value-added services to make the Internet faster or more secure. Yet the principle of net neutrality suggests that all users should benefit from such technologies. The basic protocols on which the Internet operates should not be elitist. Net neutrality ensures that all persons have equal access to information. Information is power; to restrict access to only those who can afford certain services exacerbates income and power disparities in the world.