Network neutrality or ‘net neutrality’ in its abridged form is the guiding principle for preservation of the free and open internet. It connotes non discrimination by internet providers on considerations of source, ownership or destination. It stands in the way of internet providers speeding up or slowing down web content based on such factors. It seeks to safeguard the consumer’s right to use any equipment, device, application, service or content without any interference from the network provider. With net neutrality network’s function is to move data through the information highway without either privileging any data with higher quality of service or discriminating others.
Net neutrality is not a new phenomenon. This notion of net neutrality has always been part and parcel of the internet since its emergence. Since 1930 ‘non discrimination’ provisions like Net Neutrality have governed USA’s communications networks. Giant telephone and cable companies of the nation dominating almost 98% of the broad band access market want to block legislation designed to confirm the existing notion of ‘Net Neutrality’ that would continue to safeguard the freedom enjoyed on the internet. In the name of deregulation these corporate houses want to shut out competition and create their monopoly.
USA’s largest telephone and cable companies want to usurp the role of internet gatekeepers to the nation. They would like to have the prerogative to decide which website would go fast or slow and which would not load at all. They have plans to privilege their own search engines, video and internet telephone services over those of competitors or rivals. They harbor ambitions to reserve express lanes on the information highway for their own contents and services to the exclusion of others. They want to burden the content providers with steep tolls for ensuring speedy delivery and timely hosting of their contents.
Without Net Neutrality the internet will largely resemble a cable TV where network owners decide on the channels, contents and applications allowed and consumer will be restricted to only picking up from the menu offered by the network provider.
