Net Neutrality and You1

by Angelita

I’m not the most technical minded person in the world; if my laptop so much as makes one irregular noise I start crying for my tech savvy boy toy to fix it. Yet, even in my, “I still like to read a paper-based newspaper” world, I cannot overemphasize the importance of Net Neutrality.

What is Net Neutrality, you ask? There are several different definitions but this is the simplest: All sources of data are treated equally by internet service providers. Thus, no website gets preferential treatment; every website appears on your screen the same be it the site of a major international corporation or a mommy blog based in Nebraska. In other words, it’s the only type of internet you’ve ever known.

[Lavonne in Downtime]

The system has worked out great since the dawn of the internet and even the all-mighty creator — the so-called “father of the internet,“ Vinton Cerf — supports keeping the internet a free-flowing highway of information. Google did too, until recently. Last week, Google announced a joint deal with Verizon to create a fast lane on our highway, for those willing to pay for it. Right now, the deal would only apply to cell-phone internet usage but service providers could start picking it up for regular internet usage.
Adopting this arrangement would have several repercussions for you, Mr. /Mrs. Internet User. First, you might have a panic attack due to your fear of change. Second, you’re going to need to relearn how you use the internet. Sites you visit on a daily basis — like SuicideGirls — might not be covered under whatever tier of internet service you pay for or they could be completely discriminated against by your internet provider. To get access to those sites you might need to switch providers or pay for a higher tier of internet.

Accessing and paying for internet would become a lot like cable TV. However, where having the best cable package means having more entertainment, having the best internet package means you have the most access to information. Limiting people’s access to the TV show “Weeds” based on how much they can pay is one thing, limiting their access to any and all INFORMATION is a completely other fucked up thing.

So what can you do keep Net Neutrality?

WRITE YOUR U.S. SENATOR AND/OR REPRESENTATIVES!

I know it sounds silly or useless, but the only thing we can do this nip this in the bud is to make Net Neutrality law. Last I checked, those upper-class, white, male motherfuckers work for us, so find their address/email here and put them to work to save Net Neutrality.