Digitally Born

If you don’t know, net neutrality has been a hot issue this year. The issue hasn’t gone away. If you don’t know what it is, here’s my quick run down.
Right now, the internet works as a co-op of localized, interconnected networks (hence inter-net). For example, when I request www.google.com, information is transfered across (at least) four different localized networks. My office network, TelCove, Level3, then Google’s network. Each network allows for (valid) traffic to cross it freely, without filtration or discrimination. This is called net neutrality, and it is the core ideal which makes the internet what it is.

So far, net neutrality has been US and International law. No company or organization is allowed to even identify information that is crossing it’s network, unless it’s destination is on that organization’s network (Comcast or I can stop you from reaching my PC at home, but Comcast can’t stop me from reaching Google). The issue is that large companies, specifically Mediacom, Comcast, AT&T, Time Warner, and many more, have begun lobbying to change these laws. They wish the ability to create faster, “express lanes” on the internet, and only allow paying destinations access to the fast lane.

Let’s give an example: I pay Comcast for access to their network and, therefore, the internet. Right now, when I request Google, information crosses Comcast’s network based on the fastest available route. After loss of net neutrality, Google would have to pay Comcast a monthly fee to keep information, that I requested, taking the fastest route. If they didn’t pay Comcast, all information coming to me from Google would take a slower route.

Now, think about the fact that information has to cross multiple networks to get to me. In order to supply me (the consumer) with the best service, Google would have to pay EVERY internet carrier a monthly service fee. Which would degrade Google’s ability to create the best services, cut into their profits, and ultimately deny me the best services.

Also, since I have my own site, I would have to do the same. Me. An individual blogger, would either have to be painfully slow to you (the consumer), or I would have to pay out of the ass so that I would be delivered to you as fast as possible.

But .. don’t you already pay for the traffic you use? Isn’t that what your monthly internet access fee is for? Are they planning on making the internet free for the home user? No? What about lowering the cost to the consumer? Hell no. In fact, they are fighting for the ability to INCREASE what they are allowed to charge the consumer.

Hopefully, you now see why this has become quite a heated discussion and you (somewhat) understand what the whole fight is about.

So .. with no further interruptions .. here’s my letter. Please help me to correct mistakes (factual, grammatical, etc).

ATTN: Florida Congressmen and Senators
Re: Save Network Neutrality

Dear Congressman/Senator,
I work as an internet developer in Tallahassee, FL for a local company and I believe very strongly in net neutrality.

Net neutrality is the only way to ensure that the people’s voice can once again be heard. The ability for every American, and every human, to voice their opinion, perspective, and observations is at the core of American ideals. This ability is also the fundamental purpose of the internet: to provide a free and open source of information. I believe in this era, when our civil liberties have been eroded for the sake of security (national and personal), we need this ability more than ever. To deny a freely open, unfiltered, and indiscriminate internet is to deny us the single most powerful democratic tool ever created. This denial is a flagrant attack on the core ideals of our constitution.

Regardless of my political views, I also believe the elimination of net neutrality would harm the industry as a whole. The internet directly mirrors American culture. A culture in which the majority of commerce (for profit and non) is provided by small businesses and individuals. However, it is only the large corporations that are heard. These small businesses would suffer if forced to pay fees to each of the major internet carriers in order to compete on a level playing field with their larger counterparts. This would give the large corporations the upper hand and an unfair advantage, and would put many “mom and pop shops� out of business.

It is your duty to be our voice. It is your duty to represent the individuals of Florida. To understand the issues we don’t, and to make the decisions we can’t.

I sincerely hope you have taken the time to study, discuss, and understand this issue and it’s implications. If you haven’t, grab a member of your office’s IT staff, ask them questions. Hopefully, they can put this issue into terms you can understand. If not, I would be happy to help explain the technical aspects of it.

Here are some more resources you may find helpful:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet-infrastructure.htm
http://www.savetheinternet.com/

Sincerely,
Me

This letter will be sent as part of my signing the Save The Internet petition.

12-19 11:43 Letter updated