Question 3 for Consideration

3. What are the pros and cons of net neutrality?

Question 2 for Consideration

2. Who would benefit from net neutrality?

Question 1 for Consideration

1. What is net neutrality?

Net Neutrality: Five Facts Everyone Must Know

This article breaks down what net neutrality is and lists five things that you should know about it to know the facts and what’s being debated. The five facts they think that everyone should know are: net neutrality is not a law, internet packaging, networks are “protecting” consumers, the 700 Mhz wireless spectrum, and speed throttling. The article goes into greater detail about these five things like what they mean and such.

http://www.10gea.org/net-neutrality-five-facts-everyone-must-know.htm

Net Neutrality's Quiet Crusader

This article is about a man named Ben Scott who is the “ringleader for an emerging political constituency raised on text messaging and that relies on e-mail and online video in its advocacy.” Ben Scott is this “crusader” who is supposed to help regulate who controls the media and internet and the information that is put out. He is the driving force behind the concept of net neutrality and “sponsored a bill to strengthen governance against Internet service providers trying to control consumers' Web access over their networks.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/27/AR2008032703618.html

The Battle for net neutrality

This article states the battle between free access to all web sites and a 'pay to play' plan of major companies is in the middle of a hot debate. The universal accessibility of the internet has made it an essential tool for accomplishing daily tasks and providing information across the globe, but the debate is brewing over whether or not companies can provide 'preferred access' to some web content services over others. This effect of paying companies would be the stifling of innovation on the web, and favor major expensive business customers over consumers and nonprofit enterprises. Telephone companies cannot tell consumers who they can call; so network operators should not dictate what people can do online.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/02/net_neutrality.html

Beyond Net Neutrality

The Federal Communications Commission met at Harvard University to investigate Comcasts alleged blocking of particular types of Internet traffic. The idea behind net neutrality states that information moved over the internet should not be decided by those who benefit financially. An example states that a blockbuster movie company can't decide Youtube videos are less important than their movies. Comcast states it has to violate Net Neutrality because traffic on the internet is exceeding Comcast's capacity. It states that we need more than Net Neutrality and signifies some sort of a structural change is needed so we don't have to settle.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/02/23/beyond_net_neutrality/

We are the Web. Org

Leslie Hal and a couple of her friends created We are The Web website that voices their opinion to keep the internet neutral. Their homemade music video includes Leslie dressed as a galaxy costume, a friend dressed like Peter Pan, and another friend dressed like Tron. The song
“We are the Internet” pertains to keeping the internet fair and free by telling consumers about companies and large conglomerates plan to charge internet users a fee when they surf the internet. In addition, each character presents their individual opinion about net neutrality and why people should take action. There are a couple of links to take action to fight for net neutrality, related links about news and events, and a resource page.

http://www.wearetheweb.org/

Moyers on America: The Net @ Risk

According to Moyers on America’s website, posted in 2006, net neutrality refers to regulating what appears on the internet by increasing the cost of internet sites. The increased revenue would fund a system update in order for websites to download quicker. In particular, companies and websites with heavy broadband content with videos and audio files would pay a higher fee. The video on Moyers on America show two women voicing their opinions about the net neutrality debate. They believed that small businesses, mom and pop sites, and non-profit organizations would not be able to pay the higher cost for a website. This debate continues with what legislation planned voting on a net neutrality bill during 2006.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/moyersonamerica/net/neutrality.html