Net neutrality and why it's super important

Net neutrality - the idea of having a free and open internet - is very important to me. However, Verizon, AT&T, Time Warner Cable, and Comcast (the internet service providers, or ISPs for both wired and wireless) want to disband net neutrality because they claim there is too much traffic on the internet. This traffic is the fault of "bandwidth hogs" who are slowing services with downloads and internet television. 

This article explains the idea of a "fast track," and a "slow track" that the corporations would create. The internet would essentially be divided like cable TV in which customers would have to pay for the websites they want to use in the "fast track." If they don't want to pay, or more importantly - can't afford to pay - for the services, then their internet connection will be extremely slow. 

In 2012, Free Press and other organizations created a mockumentary titled, "The Internet Must Go." It is a 30 min film about a man named John Wooley, who was hired by the ISPs to convince people that net neutrality was a bad thing. 

Wooley interviewed leaders of organizations, senators, and even the creator of Reddit to get a better understanding of the importance of net neutrality. Some of the organizations got their start by creating a simple website that went viral. They explained to Wooley that this wouldn't have been possible if net neutrality didn't exist, because start-up websites and personal blogs are too small to appear on the corporations internet cable lists. One of best quotes from the film was from the president of TheColorofChange.org who said, "At the end of the day, America works best when all of its voices are heard." 

In my opinion, one of the biggest misconceptions about net neutrality is that it is needed because there is only so much bandwidth. However, the pipes and wires that create the internet space is NOT a finite resource. In fact, if the ISPs invested more money into their services, we would all have extremely fast internet. 

Currently, the American broadband infrastructure is ranked 28th for speed and other services on the list of developed countries. This is embarrassing! We are suppose to be one of the most advanced countries of the world, built on a document that declares freedom. Instead we are prisoners to our capitalistic mindsets that don't allow for development. 

I have two main issues with the idea of not having net neutrality for our country: 

• First, I understand that the meaning of the word "free" in "free and open internet" does not mean that customers shouldn't have to pay for their internet services. ISPs do provide the infrastructure that is needed to be able to surf the web, write a blog, or watch hours of YouTube videos. However, it does ensure me the right to free speech. Also, the ISPs don't own the rights to my creative content of free speech.
• If the ISPs are allowed to charge for one's free speech, then it essentially creates censorship for those who can't afford to pay extra for their internet services. This idea preys off of the economic inequality in our country, and states that if you can't afford to purchase freedom then you don't deserve it. That makes me sick to my stomach.