Net neutrality is the principle that says all information flowing across the Internet should be treated equally. But with more people streaming data-rich video and playing online games, the Internet faces congestion concerns. Should carriers be able to sell multi-tiered access to heavy users? Should sites that generate massive traffic -- like Google and Yahoo! -- pay extra fees? The U.S. Government is examining Net Neutrality and its financial, legal and social implications. Do we need federal intervention to ensure fairness, or is this an issue for the market to work out?
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Beware the Unintended Consequences of Regulation
Preventing technological regression
The attraction of the internet to technologists and entrepreneurs alike is the freeness and openness enjoyed on the internet. It is this freedom which has lead to enormous technological advances, distributed knowledge and influential paradigm shifts in how we interact and socialize. As such, we should do everything in our power to maintain that openness and freedom currently enjoyed, otherwise, we run the risk of regressing back a few steps in the wrong direction.
The concern regarding capacity has been raised. However, it should be remembered that technology is being developed at an incredible rate to overcome these hurdles. Right now, in the USA researchers are involved in creating the Internet 2.0. There are worldwide organisations researching new means of data transfer. Overcoming legislation, on the other hand, is a much slower process. Issues involving capacity will sort themselves out. It is my opinion that it would be a terrible mistake to trow a political spanner in the works.
- Ralfe Poisson
August 31, 2008 10:26AM
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