A Speech on Net Neutrality
06.11.08 | Filed under Ideas, Media, Trends.
Note:Â Public speaking time again. This is a condensed transcript of a speech I gave to our school last thursday afternoon. It was fairly well delivered and certainly well recieved, but I didn’t win. I thought since my last speech (on hacking) appeared on here that it would be a good idea to post this one.
Ladies and gentlemen, I’m here today to talk about an issue commonly known as Net Neutrality. According to Google, net neutrality is the principle that Internet users should be in control of what content they view, and what applications they use on the internet. This means nobody should have to pay more to visit more websites, and all websites are equal. The internet has operated according to this principle since its beginning. I think many of us take this principle for granted. After all, it’s the way the internet is, how could it seriously be any different?
But some claim that there are forces at work to change the way the internet works. Many net neutrality activists are saying that all of the significant internet service providers (in the Maritimes the ISPs are Eastlink, Aliant, and Rogers) are in talks with each other and the US Congress to organize and set up a new internet.
These neutrality movement leaders are saying that these companies want to impose a “tiered service” model worldwide by 2012. Basically, the tiered service model means that we have to pay more to be able to go to more websites.
The Internet would quickly turn into a TV-like entity after this new system is in place.
When you get satellite TV for your home, you always pay a set rate for a basic package of channels, and then you might want to add on more channel packages for more money, such as movie networks or sports networks. It’s a simple system. The new Internet would be much the same. The concept that you can visit any website you want without having to pay more for certain sites would be thrown away. I cannot confirm or deny the truth behind these claims that are being made by net neutrality activists, but I think there is a very good chance it is happening.
Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the man who created the Internet 15 years ago has stated his views in favor of net neutrality. He has said that (quote)”we may pay for a higher or lower quality of service. We may pay for a service which has the characteristics of being good for video or quality audio…we each pay to connect to the Net, but no one can pay for exclusive access to me.” (unquote)
An example
Do you get mail very often? Do you send mail very often? For most of you the answer is probably no, but I’m sure all of you know perfectly well that you need a stamp to send a letter. It doesn’t matter what the letter is saying or who you’re sending it to, you still pay the same to send that letter. It is on this principle that the Internet is based.
The tiered Internet model creates a major implications for us.Â
- Smaller websites will slowly disappear because nobody will want to pay more to visit them.
- MY websites will disappear, and I’ve spent over a hundred hours working on them in the last year.
- Our socio-economic standing will determine our knowledge level and limit us.
- A great loss in diversity will be felt, and a greater amount of bias will be seen in the remaining websites. It is definitely hard to maintain an untrue stance on a topic when others are contradicting you with factual evidence, but when those opposing voices are removed, what will happen?
In Conclusion
To be honest, I don’t really believe the Internet will radically change any time in the several years, but valid questions are still raised by discussing this. Are we taking the principle of net neutrality for granted?
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