Will Net Neutrality Save the Internet?

Advocates say that "Net Neutrality" will "save the Internet."

But does the Internet need saving?

Net Neutrality is a proposed set of regulatory powers that would grant the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the ability to control how Internet service providers (ISPs) package their services. Proponents argue that such rules are necessary to ensure that ISPs treat all data on the Internet equally and don't slow or even restrict access to various websites and other parts of the Internet.

However well-intentioned, the practical effect will be to limit consumer choice and grant the federal government unprecedented power over the Internet, all in the name of fixing a problem that doesn't exist in any meaningful way (http://reason.com/blog/2010/02/24/recently-at-reasontv-net-neutr). Indeed, examples of the behavior that Net Neutrality will combat are few and far between.

Approximately 4 minutes. Produced and animated by Austin Bragg. Written by Zach Weissmueller.

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Related videos: "Net Neutrality for Dummies" (http://reason.com/blog/2010/02/24/recently-at-reasontv-net-neutr) and "Nick Gillespie Talks Net Neutrality, Teen Mags, & More" (http://reason.com/blog/2010/12/11/nick-gillespie-on-techcrunchtv).

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• net neutrality
• reasontv
• Nick Gillespie
• reason magazine
• libertarian
• save the internet
• internet freedom
• reason foundation
• Zach Weissmueller
• Austin Bragg

[skaterboy379]

net neutrality will kill the internet.

[snapy666]

Net neutrality just means that Internet providers (ISP) aren't allowed (by law) to regulate or block content (something that already happened in some countries, including the U.S. and Germany). Also some people can't switch their ISP, because there aren't any other. Net neutrality doesn't mean the government can control anything. Indead this video is scare tactic to let you think net neutrality is a bad thing.

Search for net neutrality, wikipedia with the search engine of your choice.

[godkingRoss]

hahaha, he thinks the US government doesn't censor the net..... not directly, they just get companies to do it for them.

[PanzerDivisionBOM]

@snapy666

The FCC was granted the power to regulate the airwaves. The stated purpose was not to censor anything or restrict who gets to broadcast, but just to keep stations from broadcasting on the same frequencies and jamming eachothers' transmissions. Like with bandwith throttling today, this crowding was extremely rare, because there was already a system of mutual agreements and homesteading-based property rights in frequencies.

The parallels are just too many and too obvious.

[fleetcenturion]

If an area has only one ISP, it is because a state or local government has granted it a monopoly. This is what needs to be shut down, instead of a new set of regulations that grants governments-- and those who pay off governments-- even more authority.

For those who claim to support NN, ask yourselves what you would think if it were proposed under and supported by the Bush administration.

[Nukepositive]

My area cannot implement the models suggested above. There may be multiple ISPs in places, but there's only 1 ISP in my entire portion of state. Without net neutrality, we have localized monopolies and ISPs that can bully around the Internet as they like.

[AmericanNohbuddy]

Libertarians are in favor of censorship.

[AmericanNohbuddy]

@wyman856

Net Neutrality has existed for years already. You think this is new?

[wyman856]

Net neutrality was just the first step in the government's inevitable plan to control the internet. Step two is obviously SOPA and who knows what's still to come.

[dancemonkiii]

WTF?!? Net neutrality is what the internet already is and has always been. A law for net neutrality is a law to keep the internet the way it is... Lol @ people who don't know anything about the Internet.