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What Role Does Net Neutrality Play In The Internet

Decent Essays

Colin Nishi
INFO-I202
Assignment #3
Net Neutrality’s Role in The Open Internet The World Wide Web was first created by Tim Berners-Lee in 1990, under the philosophy that it would begin as, and remain, an “open and free” platform of expression. It was believed that a neutral [open] web could promote innovation and development of technologies in an environment where individuals’ speech and collaboration overpowered large corporations. Recently, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have jeopardized the open nature of the web by opposing net neutrality, the idea that “all data on the internet should be treated equally by corporations, such as internet service providers, and governments, regardless of content, user, platform, application or device.” …show more content…

As William Fisher said in Freedom and Expression on the Internet, “Content-based governmental restrictions on speech are unconstitutional unless they advance a "compelling state interest." (Fisher) This states that the constitution prohibits the government from censoring your speech [or press] unless it’s in violation with the law. Today, we are still able to post anything, anytime, anywhere, without consequence assuming its legal. On February 26, the “FCC voted on the issue of Net neutrality passing chairman Tom Wheeler’s proposal in a 3-2 vote.” (Gokey) This landmark decision ended the net neutrality debate by eliminating Internet fast lanes and paid prioritization. In addition the new act gave no power to the ISPs, which would have otherwise created monopolies, economic stagnation and lack of …show more content…

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