Net Neutrality, Essay Example

Since its inception, the Internet has been a free and open medium that people from all over the world have a right to access and build websites. The Internet, as it is known, treats all Internet traffic indiscriminately, barring virtually no one from accessing and sharing information at will. According to the FCC, the design of the Internet “has made it possible for anyone, anywhere to easily launch innovative applications and services, revolutionizing the way people communicate, participate, create, and do business – think of email, blogs, streaming video, and online shopping” (FCC). However, if all of this changes and takes away the freedom of the Internet, it would have “significant implications for American democracy (Williams & Delli Carpini, 2011: 7). The Internet is open to consumers to make choices and freely use its applications and patronize businesses. It is also open for people to choose the content they want to create online, as well as content they want to access and share with family, friends, or the public. Not only is the Internet open, but it is neutral, thus referring to Net Neutrality—the concept of open Internet principles (FCC). This concept has been a subject of public debate for the past several years. The focus of this paper relates to the debate about net neutrality and whether protecting it is a matter of American values, liberties, and freedom.

The Debate

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. appeals court rejected a federal ruling requiring that all Internet traffic must be treated equally by broadband providers. This means that large Internet companies, such as Netflix and YouTube, are subject to paying higher fees to deliver quality service to consumers. From the consumers’ standpoint, this means that some websites would not load as fast as others, if the service provider does not pay the extra fees. One justification given for imposing higher fees on broadband providers is the fact that very high traffic websites, such as Netflix, use a high amount of bandwidth. For example, Netflix Internet traffic in North America is 32% at its peak times, which is more than any other service provider online. This is why executives in the cable industry argue that companies such as this should help pay the cost of delivering service to consumers (Nagesh). This concept is a new development in information and communications technology, which fundamentally affects media regimes on and offline. These media regimes often determine how information, whether political, economic, entertainment, technological, public, etc., is delivered (Williams and Delli Carpini), and eliminating the neutrality of the Internet would significantly affect how these regimes operate. Thus, the debate about protecting the open Internet, which is a focus of the American Civil Liberties Union that is lobbying for Americans to get involved in protecting their right to access what they want on the Internet. Additionally, the Union informs that certain websites could be blocked or be placed on pay-per-view status if net neutrality is eliminated (ACLU). Debate about net neutrality is not the only issue regarding it, as it also concerns such notions as larger communications companies taking over their smaller counterparts, such as the case with Comcast attempting to buyout Time Warner Cable.

Communications Buyout

As consumers are showing signs of wear over their high cable bills, they are seeking out cheaper alternatives to being entertained via television or the Internet. These high fees, however, are merely being passed on to the public from their cable companies because the cable companies are being assessed high fees by broadcast and cable networks that will equate to at least $4 billion this year (Auletta). This is a major factor in companies such as Comcast wanting to take over Time Warner Cable. Comcast is the largest owner of cable systems and Time Warner Cable is the second largest, which will be acquired by Comcast for $45 billion. Why? Because Comcast wants more leverage in the marketplace. “Size, plus ownership of high-speed Internet connections, will grant it more power at the bargaining table with program networks and Internet platforms” (Auletta). Even with all the power it would hold, Comcast would still be vulnerable, according to Auletta, as would other Internet providers.

However, the Comcast/Time Warner Cable merger is not an acceptable notion to all. Some are lobbying for the FCC to block the merger, citing it would give Comcast too much power to control what people watched and how they access the Internet, as Comcast already owns a host of other mediums such as MSNBC, NBC, Universal Studios and many other cable channels. This merger would place Comcast in the position of owning over one-third of all cable-TV subscriber accounts and controlling more than 50 percent of TV, phone, and Internet service combination accounts. Opposers argue this merger would lessen consumer choice and diversity, as well as lead to even higher cable bills (Freepress).

American Values, Liberties, and Freedom

Americans value freedom and civil liberties and, as seen above, these factors are under threat by the possibility of the elimination of net neutrality. Many would argue that human values are worth considering when designing and regulating the infrastructure of the Internet, due to the interrelatedness of values, technology, and policy. Additionally, human values are worth considering in the debate on net neutrality (Cheng). This ties into the initiatives put forth by the American Civil Liberties Union, as mentioned above, that is leading a movement for Americans to speak up and protect their rights by protecting net neutrality. The FCC’s website states that it will ensure the Internet continues to empower consumers and entrepreneurs, and it states that the FCC seeks to protect free expression, promote competition, increase marketplace certainty, and spur investment (FCC). However, as seen, the FCC is pushing to end net neutrality as it is known today.

Conclusion

The net neutrality debate sparks fears among consumers and Internet users that Internet service providers may begin restricting Internet access or having to tier Internet access, due to fees that may be imposed on Internet service providers. This would not only result in higher fees being passed on to the public, but it would also affect current free and open access to the Internet. Americans value their freedom and the elimination of net neutrality would be a violation of a major freedom that many Americans see as a necessity—freely accessing the Internet. This means that people see net neutrality as not discriminating against what types of content or applications to which they have access online. Net neutrality and protecting it is certainly a matter of American values, liberties, and freedom.

Works Cited

ACLU. What Is Net Neutrality? The ACLU Answers the Key Questions. n.d. Web. 7 October 2014. <https://www.aclu.org/net-neutrality>.

Auletta, K. Why Comcast Wants to Buy Time Warner Cable. 13 February 2014. Web. 7 October 2014. <http://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/why-comcast-wants-to-buy-time-warner-cable>.

Cheng, A. “Values in the Net Neutrality Debate: Applying Content Analysis to Testimonies from Public Hearings.” Dissertation. University of Maryland, 2012. Web. <http://drum.lib.umd.edu/bitstream/1903/12701/1/Cheng_umd_0117E_13093.pdf>.

FCC. The Open Internet. July 2014. Web. 7 October 2014. <http://www.fcc.gov/guides/open-internet>.

Freepress. Stop the Merger. n.d. Web. 7 October 2014. <http://act.freepress.net/sign/consol_comcast_twc/source=FPblog>.

Nagesh, G. Court Tosses Rules of Road for Internet. 14 January 2014. Web. 7 October 2014. <http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304049704579320500441593462>.

Williams, B. A. and M. X. Delli Carpini. After Broadcast News: Media Regimes, Democracy, and the New Information Environment. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011. Print.