The argument for net neutrality Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The argument for net neutrality - Research Paper Example This method can be seen just as the current method of obtaining water from the utility company. The flow information, or data, can be seen as the flow water to a home. From that point the amount of water coming into a home can be increased by purchasing a larger inlet pipe from the provider. This is the same concept with Internet service providers. Once the water reaches a home it can be distributed and used around the home as much as needed up to the max flow that the pipes allow. This same concept is the same with the Internet. Information flow comes in to the home and distributed to devices until the â€Å"pipe† is full. Internet service providers now want to not only charge for the pipe coming into the home but also split up the types information within the flow into tiered charges as well. This is where the idea of net neutrality comes into play. Net neutrality states that the flow from the pipe is a stream of data just like the water is from the water company and should not be filtered to charge for certain types of data coming through. The Internet is a flow of information and should not be restricted based on the types of information coming through the pipes. Problems in the absence of neutral net services The issue of net neutrality received widespread media attention when some broadband service providers (BSPs) such as Verizon, Comcast, and AT &T proposed to charge popular online Web sites for priority delivery of the latter’s content to their residential and commercial customers. The proposal encountered stiff resistance from those who were supposed to be charged, and thus erstwhile competitors such as Google, Yahoo!, and Microsoft were soon lobbying before the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that would prevent the BSPs from carrying out their proposed plan and thereby maintain what was termed the â€Å"neutrality† of the Internet (Guo, et al, 2010, p.244) Commercialization is intruding virtually in every segments of human life and internet is also not an exception. When internet was introduced, people visualized or welcomed it as an ocean of free or unpaid knowledge. However, business people quickly realized the huge business potential of internet and quickly started their efforts to transform internet from a free service to a paid service. Many internet service providers in America like Verizon, Comcast, and AT &T, started to restrict their free internet services one way or other which resulted in the creation of the topic; net neutrality. Enforcing fees for using some kind of network services is just like restricting the natural right of people to get drinking water. Knowledge is a property which cannot be restricted or used for commercial purposes. It should be remembered that what would have happened, had our ancestors try to hide their knowledge instead of distributing it freely to the future generation. What would have happened if the inventor of electricity asked for patents or fees for his discov ery? Knowledge, technological advancements, discoveries and inventions should be used for the