More On Net Neutrality

If you haven’t already noticed, I’m strongly in favor of net neutrality. It has important ramifications for the future of innovation. It is necessary to preserve the free flow of information. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are useless if that information flow is controlled by a few.

One major advantage we have when information flows freely is that you don’t have to decide on issues like this based solely on my advice. You can consult experts. Well, here’s what some experts are saying:

“When I invented the Web, I didn't have to ask anyone's permission. Now, hundreds of millions of people are using it freely. I am worried that that is going end in the USA.”

“Yes, regulation to keep the Internet open is regulation. And mostly, the Internet thrives on lack of regulation. But some basic values have to be preserved. For example, the market system depends on the rule that you can't photocopy money. Democracy depends on freedom of speech. Freedom of connection, with any application, to any party, is the fundamental social basis of the Internet, and, now, the society based on it.”

“I hope that Congress can protect net neutrality, so I can continue to innovate in the internet space. I want to see the explosion of innovations happening out there on the Web, so diverse and so exciting, continue unabated.” - Tim Berners-Lee, Inventor of the World Wide Web

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“As we move to a broadband environment and eliminate century-old non-discrimination requirements, a lightweight but enforceable neutrality rule is needed to ensure that the Internet continues to thrive. Telephone companies cannot tell consumers who they can call; network operators should not dictate what people can do online.”

“Allowing broadband carriers to control what people see and do online would fundamentally undermine the principles that have made the Internet such a success...A number of justifications have been created to support carrier control over consumer choices online; none stand up to scrutiny.” - Vint Cerf, Co-Developer of the Internet Protocol

The telcos use statements from Lawyers, businessmen, journalists and politicians to argue that net neutrality will kill Internet innovation. Who do you believe the innovators who created the Internet, or the corporations who want to make more money on it? In other words, would you rather take auto maintenance advice from a car salesman or a mechanic?

More info: Danny Weitzner, Net Neutrality, Oddly Zen, Fractals of Change,

Tags: Internet, freedom, politics, web, net neutrality