Why We Need To Understand Net Neutrality
Most think it’s about traffic flow.. but the reality is quite different.
What’s wrong with the net today? Isn’t there a neutrality now?
It’s really about control of the Internet. The less the government is involved the better.
The whole argument is really about the FCC losing the right to regulate the Internet, effectively losing much of its reason to exist, as more and more communication goes online. And we all know how well the FCC performs in what was supposed to be its role.
From American’s for Prosperity:
“The arguments made by advocates of so-called net neutrality regulations have been proven false by nearly a decade of experience since their concerns were first raised. The Internet is a remarkable free market success story, and the vast majority of Internet users are not clamoring for regulation. Self-styled consumer groups asking for regulation actually represent an extreme left-wing ideology that is hostile to free-market capitalism and puts its trust in government. That is not the position of the “grassroots” or most American Internet users. I urge you to reject new regulations and allow the free-market Internet to continue flourishing.”
In Canada, you might be inclined to ask why these folks are the ones in favor of it (Wikipedia):
The federal NDP has been a vocal advocate of the principles behind Network Neutrality, with MP Charlie Angus (Timmins—James Bay) whose role of digital spokesperson for his party has drawn attention to this and other related issues, such as copyright reform. Mr. Angus has raised this issue many times in the House of Commons and in committee.
On June 18, 2009, federal Liberal Party MP Marc Garneau (Westmount—Ville-Marie), the Official Opposition critic for Industry, Science and Technology, declared Liberal support for Network Neutrality during Question Period by asking the Conservative Government to do the same. Until this point, the Liberals had been mostly silent on the issue.
While the current position of the Bloc Québecois remains unclear, former Bloc MP Paul Crête (Montmagny—L’Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup) has come out in support of Network Neutrality.
The Green Party of Canada supports Network Neutrality in principle.
The Pirate Party of Canada is the first political party to form in Canada with a main platform consisting of support for Net Neutrality. Formed in 2009, the PPCA is and has been pushing for Net Neutrality since its start, as per its Manifesto.
I get why the pirate party is for it.. but there’s a probably more to why all the left are for it. Having the government in control is a founding principle for these people.
Imagine the day when you go out get a domain, and start a website.. but first you’ll need to register and get a license from the INO (Internet Neutrality Office). I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait.
If Net Neutrality really means that ISPs can’t throttle or shape traffic, and we can watch the US version of Comedy Central and Hulu, I am for it. Just pass a law that states this. What more do we need?
If it means a government department sets ongoing rules and monitors compliance, I am dead against it.
That’s the real goal of net neutrality… government being the arbiters of what’s fair online.
And frankly, I’ve chosen to make my living online and I spend most of my waking hours online… because the government can’t control or interfere with what I am doing.
I send Revenue Canada a check for my taxes and they leave me alone. I am doing business in 4 continents and I have no business license in any of them. Best of all, none can tell me what to do (as long as I follow the legal rules of commerce) and none can tax me (Lord know Canada gets enough).
Go try and start 4-5 businesses a year in the offline world that government controls, and let me know how much fun it is dealing with city hall, provincial and federal governments. Not to mention any of the numerous government agencies that exist just to police your business.
That’s what they are really trying to do… get it so the government agencies have growth again. The need to give them access to a whole new world (Internet) to police, to set rules for, and to tax.
They want to put the genie back in the bottle.
