the diversity of net neutrality

The fundamental issue underlying the net neutrality debate is the potential to privatize or eliminate the neutrality (free right to access the internet). If net neutrality is eliminated, several powerful internet service providers will be able to determine who has access to what. These ISP’s would have the potential to slow down service, or censor select emails and websites all together. Opponents of net neutrality claim that the privatization of the internet will encourage competition.

The Savetheinternet.com Coalition and the ACLU are two organizations that are openly in favor of net neutrality. The Savetheinternet.com Coalition claims that they are “made up of groups from across the political spectrum that have banded together to save the First Amendment of the Internet: network neutrality. No corporation or political party is funding our efforts.” On their website they have articles, a regularly updated blog, progress updates and ways for citizens to get involved in preserving the neutrality of the internet. Their stance is in support of the ‘the internet’s First Amendment,’ which they claim allows anyone to have equal access to the internet. As for the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), they are known for publicizing and lobbying on behalf of Americans’ civil liberties on many issues. In an article on cnet’s news.com, Caroline Fredrickson, the Director of the ACLU argues that: “the result [of privatizing the internet] is that fewer and fewer companies will have more and more control over what consumers see and do on the Internet. If the consumer does not like the services provided by his ISP, he or she will essentially have two choices: Take it or leave it.” Several other significant voices have emerged in favor of the net neutrality including Microsoft, MoveOn.org, in addition to several other media and consumer advocate groups.

On the other hand, several figures have emerged against net neutrality, including handsoff.org, and various government and corporate representatives including Richard Notebaert, CEO of Qwest Communications. Handsoff.org claims that “Hands Off The Internet is a nationwide coalition of Internet users united together in the belief that the Net's phenomenal growth over the past decade stems from the ability of entrepreneurs to expand consumer choices and opportunities without worrying about government regulation.” However, many of the member organizations sponsoring the organization happen to be the corporations and ISP’s that a have much to gain be the privatization of the internet including AT&T and Bell South. When I write ‘privatizing the internet’ what I mean is the introduction of a tiered internet access system by the major ISP’s. Notebaert publicly stated at the Voice on The Net Conference in San Jose last March that “he believes that network operators should have the option to charge content providers, such as Google or Amazon, higher rates for providing premium service over the Qwest network” (Marguerite Reardon for cnet’s news.com, http://news.com.com/Qwest+CEO+supports+tiered+Internet/2100-1034_3-6050109.html?tag=nl). As mentioned earlier, opponents of the neutrality of the internet claim that the way to ensure the healthy growth of the internet in America is to deregulate it and implement a more capitalist system to access the internet.