The Pros And Cons Of Net Neutrality

Imagine living in a world with internet restrictions. What is the problem with congress removing net neutrality if companies say they will not block or slow down access to content on the internet? Net Neutrality is “the concept that broadband Internet service providers should provide nondiscriminatory access to Internet content, platforms, etc., and should not manipulate the transfer of data regardless of its source or destination” (Dictionary.com). On the one hand, supporters of net neutrality argue that only large companies would be able to afford faster internet speeds. Thus, reducing traffic to smaller businesses because of throttling and that content control could lead to content or site discrimination. On the other hand, opponents of

Smaller startup businesses insist they will not be able to afford to pay premium prices to provide faster content for their customers. In the video “What is net neutrality?’ on the MSNBC website, Tony Romm Sr. Ed, Policy & Politics says, “One the big fears is this idea of online fast lanes, that companies like Verizon or Comcast could strike partnerships with those that make content. People who have steamed movies or have streaming video, and charge them for faster delivery of their bits. Which is something that smaller companies or startups in Silicon Valley potentially can’t afford”. Without net neutrality, only large companies would have access to higher speeds of internet use; therefore, it would put smaller (new) businesses at risk of failure due to the inability to pay for having content on the internet. The essence of net neutrality opponents’ argument is, that by charging more for faster content they can pay for more jobs and invest more in content providing technologies. Tony also went on to say, “In the eyes of republicans this [net neutrality] has crimped investment, its stopped AT&T, Verizon and others from investing more heavily in their networks”. In other words, opponents believe that the cost of having to abide by strict regulations and laws and not being able to charge more for faster ‘lanes’ restricts them from being able to grow as a service provider business. In the article “Net

Supporters of net neutrality argue, that service providing companies can suppress or block content from sites if the service provider does not agree with the sites views. In the article “Net Neutrality: Should Congress pass legislation mandating net neutrality?” on the Issues & Controversies database it states, “ISPs can also slow the operating speeds of certain sites, either because those sites pay less money or because the ISPs object to their content”. The article also goes on to say that supporters of net neutrality urge, “Internet users should have equal access to all types of information online, and that companies offering internet service should not be able to give priority to some sources or certain types of content”. Without net neutrality, all internet content would be at the mercy of the service provider; however, opponents of net neutrality argue that large companies have already ‘gone on record’ stating they wouldn’t do such things and that service providing companies would be legally held accountable if they did