Net-Neutrality: wtf is it?

[cousinlucky]

Thank You, Coderoot!!
Verizon has just added a new Surcharge to its bills for DSL service. I am still using dial-up at $10.00 a month. It is Slow; but at least it is a standard price for most dial-up providers.

[CodeRoot]

http://www.internetofthefuture.org/ [ http://www.handsoff.org/ http://www.dontregulate.org/ ]

Until now, I have had the impression that "net neutrality" basically meant "leave it alone - leave it just the way it is - don't regulate - don't do or change anything" -- Apparently, I just haven't read enough...

[cousinlucky]

I just read an article by Tim Karr about net neutrality.

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/200...r_internet.php

[ImNeat]

Until now, I have had the impression that "net neutrality" basically meant "leave it alone - leave it just the way it is - don't regulate - don't do or change anything" -- Apparently, I just haven't read enough...

To my understanding, Net Neutrality is a way to regulate Internet Service Providers by restricting them from creating some sort of a “packet hierarchy.” If passed ISPs will be required to treat all packets equally – or neutrally. A good analogy is that from Wikipedia:

While the term is new, the basic concept originated in the age of the telegram in 1860 or even earlier, where telegrams were routed 'equally' without attempting to discern their contents and adjusting for one application or another. Such networks are "end-to-end neutral".

So yes, Net Neutrality is regulation – it's regulation that takes power away from ISPs. People fear that without this regulation the Internet could take a change for the worse (and be more costly), while others fear that with this regulation the Internet won't be able to become more powerful, and will slow down.

Consumer-rights groups and Internet companies like Google tend to be for the legislation/regulation, whereas most big-business groups and communication carriers are against it.