Why we need Net neutrality

For any company turning to the Internet to advertise products, attract customers and deliver services, net neutrality is a policy that you need to embrace.

Under a new proposal announced Monday, Federal Communications Chairman Julius Genachowski said Internet service providers would be prohibited from blocking or slowing certain technologies under the Net Neutrality proposal. The biggest impact would be felt by consumers. The proposed action means that any Internet provider--wireless, cable or DSL--would be prohibited from blocking or slowing access to video or phone services.

For instance, Comcast or AT&T wouldn't be allowed to feed video to a subscriber from one of their online video services faster than they allow feeds from a rival service. Aides to the FCC chairman said the idea is that all platforms are technologically neutral and nothing changes regardless of the way you decide to reach the Internet.

However, David Young, vice president of regulatory affairs for Verizon Communications, said there wasn't much proof that consumers or businesses have not been able to get the web content they want. And Republicans in Congress are opposing the idea, moving to offer legislation to keep Net neutrality from moving forward.

But Genachowski has plenty of examples where there have been roadblocks.

"This is not about protecting the Internet against imaginary dangers. We're seeing the breaks and cracks emerge, and they threaten to change the Internet's fundamental architecture of openness," Genachowski said.

For more on Net Neutrality:
- check out this Washington Post article
- and this Wall Street Journal article

Related Articles:
Net neutrality bill takes center stage again
Coming soon: Net neutrality