Net Neutrality seems to be a stickier issue than it should be. Net Neutrality, as defined by Lawrence Lessig and Robert McChesney in their article, “No Tolls on the Internet,” means, “all like Internet content must be treated alike and move at the same speed over the network. The owners of the Internet's wires cannot discriminate.” In my opinion, net neutrality seems to be a good thing. As we discussed in class, the internet is a little different from the things that we pay more money for in return for better quality, like insurance policies or even something like a new flat screen HD television. We are a capitalistic nation, so why should the internet be any different? Well, what separates the internet from other things is the necessity and frequency that we use the internet, plus that the internet was founded on the principles that it is equal-access. I’m sure all of us are on the internet at least five times a day or more, doing research, chatting with friends. The internet opens many doors for people who may not have access to those doors without the internet, like education, news, and so much more, and I think everyone deserves quality, high speed internet at a decent price.
The United States is ranked sixteenth in the world for internet capacity, and for a country as powerful and progressive as we are, we should be doing a lot better. Big Corporations control enough in the United States, the internet should be an equal playing ground.
p.s. I found this article in the news that I found rather interesting as it relates to crimes committed in the virtual world affecting your life in the real world.
http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20081023/AS.Japan.Avatar.Murder/
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I agree that the Internet is a big part of our everyday lives, and that everyone should have equal access to high-speed, efficient internet. It should be available to all and have the same speed wherever it is. However, I just do not see that happening. As much as we would all like to see fair and equal access, at the end of the day its going to come down to how much money these corporations are going to be able to make. I believe, unfortunately, that your HD-TV example is right on. It will eventually end up that companies and households are going to have the option to pay whatever amount for better access to the internet in the same way you can pay more for high-def TV channels. I also agree that despite the issues with net neutrality, for a nation like the United States to be behind 15 other countries in terms of internet access and speed is unacceptable. That needs to be a lot better.
Meredith,
I strongly agree with you that we all use the internet a great amount during the day. We would be lost without that connect to our friends, and different websites we are so used to seeing. And you are right, everyone should have equal access to the high-speed government, with out different fees. Unfortunately, I don't think it's looking to good for us anymore...
Rachel
Post a Comment