Net Neutrality Vital to Free Speech
Internet providers have already begun to squash net neutrality by throttling P2P, gaming, and other services. Using deep packet inspection they discriminate using artificial restrictions on content as they see fit.
This slope is slippery and will lead to a further tiered Internet where a few large corporations will control the speed and content available for everyone.
Network Neutrality 101
In this day and age, the Internet is the main way Americans exercise their free speech rights, and until now, network neutrality principles have always been respected… Unfortunately, recent developments have opened the way for giant telecoms to begin tinkering with the open structure of the Internet, threatening its role as a forum for free speech. The FCC must take action to preserve the Internet as a free and open forum for all.
No such guarantee
Many people don’t realize that we may be entering a whole new stage in the Internet’s history, where the telecoms have much more power over how people use the Internet. Keeping the hands of big telecom companies off our Internet traffic is just as important as keeping the government’s hands off it.
Net Neutrality must be actively defended against the self-serving interests of companies such as AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, and Time Warner.
1. American Civil Liberties Union, “Network Neutrality 101,” online at http://www.aclu.org/free-speech-technology-and-liberty/network-neutrality-101-why-government-must-act-preserve-free-and-
