The idea of Net Neutrality is a cornerstone of the internet and is one of the main reasons it is such a disruptive development. The debate has been re-ignited by Tim Berners Lee again this week. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13126777

What Is Net Neutrality

Net neutrality simply means treating all internet traffic equally. So as a user, there is no difference in the way Mr Examples small personal blog is delivered to you compared to how You Tubes content is sent. Neither is more important than the other and information goes from it’s source to your browser using the same network.

Current Situation

Imagine the UK without motorways – this is how the internet is currently set up. To get from Leeds to London, you would have to go via many stepping stones (towns and villages) to get from your starting point (server) to the destination (browser). This works well (with improvements to bandwidth) and everyone is equal and whilst there may be the odd jam here and there (too much traffic at peak times at certain areas), everyone  and everything is equal and popularity is driving the meritocracy.

The argument is that for large sites (Skype, BBC iplayer etc) the current infrastructure isn’t enough and they are asking the ISPs (internet service providers) the people who “deliver” the internet to our homes, to provide what would be the M1 motorway in our analogy, for organisations big enough and willing to pay for it. These motorways, would be for the sole use of these businesses and would ensure the most seamless and quick delivery of their services.

Free Markets

This gives  private companies and governments control of what is delivered to the user through the best connections. Whilst this will improve the service of some big sites, it fundamentally changes the outlook of the internet’s future as it will create huge competition barriers and creates effectively a “two tier” system.

The proposal to stop this two tier system from gaining traction is to create protection of net neutrality by law. However, this is far from ideal; being the thin end of the wedge of further internet regulation. This is a far bigger danger and could make the disgraceful Digital Economy Act (2010) look positively emancipatory.

Maintaining Net Neutrality

You can’t blame companies for wanting to protect their own interest. However, it is essential that we do not sleepwalk into giving control to corporations who will exchange our freedoms for their profits. Net neutrality is fair and keeps the playing field level between all the stake holders and protecting it is in all our interests. What is certain, is that both a two tiered and tightly regulated internet is a possibility – picture a UK with only motorway toll roads, going to and from set locations approved by government. It’s limits our choices, destroys competition and gives away control from our on-line freedoms.