#NetNeutrality and the Open Internet

     Net Neutrality is a serious issue that is discussed in Congress periodically, and has the ability to affect a large number of Americans. Organizations that fight for diverse voices in the media could be silenced, protest and social movements that have an internet presence could be ignored by an interested public. But why is this important? How could voices be silenced and movements crushed underfoot by the internet?

     Imagine, for a second, that both you and your neighbor order the same object off of Amazon. You both pay for the same time period for shipping. Both of you are eagerly awaiting your orders.

     

     You notice that your neighbor has received their package one morning, and the UPS guy is standing at your front gate. Just standing there. You see that your package is in his hands, and that he is thinking about something. What could it be? You saunter up to him and ask if you can have your package, but he seems taken aback.

     "No. I'm going to keep it for a little while longer."

     But he's right there. He's at your gate, almost on your property. Why isn't he giving you your package? You ask again for your order, and explain that you can sign for it right there, but he just whisks it away and walks back to his delivery truck. You go back inside your nice home, livid.

     That whole day you notice that same UPS guy in the same delivery truck driving down your block every couple of minutes. This guy it just adding insult to injury. A few days later, you notice that your package is at your doorstep, waiting for you when you return home from work. Why didn't that delivery man just give you your package two days ago like he did with your neighbor?!

     This is a simple way to explain net neutrality. ISPs, or Internet service providers, can't prioritize any one bandwidth request because of its content or method of delivery. Don't you wish that you could have gotten your package when your neighbor did? Yeah, I would too.

     If you are interested in learning more about Net Neutrality. its effects on social movements, and the importance of the Internet's regulation as a utility and not a luxury, you can watch an informative 8 minute video that my classmates and I have created in order to inform the public of these social issues. You can watch the video HERE, and feel free to share it around to friends or family that may be affected by Net Neutrality laws as well.

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Image: http://loveurns.com/media/wysiwyg/delivery_guy.jpg