Net Neutrality
When I heard about the “Internet Freedom Act” my immediate reaction was that it did not have much to do with freedom. I was right. The act seeks to restrict my freedom to receive the internet content I choose. It will stifle innovation and contribute to the further consolidation of the media. In short, it is one of the least freedom inducing act to be introduced in a very long time.
Now I admit, just the term “net neutrality” sound boring enough to make me want to switch channels. However, that is the point. Net neutrality simply requires that the companies who provide internet capacity do so fairly to all content providers. The concept is rooted in the long standing concept of common carriers. Simply stated, the common carrier must supply service without discrimination on a first come first serve basis. Examples include telephones, ferry boats, and electric services. Now, I admit it gets more complicated when rules you have to define who asks for what and when but the idea is fairness to all. Net neutrality makes the same demand on internet traffic.
The goal is a network that allows the interconnectiveness which created the vast resource of the internet. Yes, out of the freedom has come chaos but out of the chaos has comes the paradigm shifting services of YouTube, iTunes, and Amazon.
What is the alternative? Here we need to understand the portal — the most profitable legitimate online business and the clear future profit centers. Google, Yahoo, AOL, and others don’t produce content as much as they direct users to it. These portals are the functional equivalent to the broadcast television networks NBC, ABC, and CBS.
Then there are the lowly internet service providers (ISP). These companies provide access to the internet but (other than AOL) have not become anything more than a marginal portal. This is where the Internet Freedom Act enters. Without net neutrality, the ISP will have the power to force you to use them as your portal but even more powerful.
The company you choose as you ISP will have the power to block or slow access to unfavored services and redirect you to others. While the ISP could use their power to block dangerous sites, anyone who thinks financial deals would not affect choices is seriously misguided.
An admittedly ridiculous telephone corollary: You call your friend but the phone company redirects your call to a telemarketer “chosen for you.” I guess I did not want to call Walt after all.
In the end, the only freedom in the Internet Freedom Act is the freedom for additional media consolidation.
