Net Neutrality

Definition

Net neutrality is the principle that internet service providers (ISPs) must treat all data on the internet equally, without discriminating or charging differently based on user, content, website, platform, application, type of equipment, or method of communication. It ensures a free and open internet where users can access any website or online service without interference from their ISP.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Net neutrality ensures that ISPs cannot block, slow down, or charge more for certain websites, online content, or applications.
2. The absence of net neutrality rules could allow ISPs to create 'fast lanes' for companies willing to pay more, while slowing down or limiting access to other websites and services.
3. Net neutrality is considered essential for preserving the open and innovative nature of the internet, as it prevents ISPs from acting as gatekeepers and favoring certain online content over others.
4. The debate over net neutrality has been ongoing, with supporters arguing it is necessary to protect consumer choice and free speech, while opponents claim it stifles investment and innovation.
5. In the United States, net neutrality rules were implemented by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2015, but were later repealed in 2017 under a new FCC administration.

Review Questions

• Explain how net neutrality relates to the changing media landscape and the role of the internet and social media.
  • Net neutrality is a crucial principle that ensures the internet remains an open and accessible platform for the distribution and consumption of media content. Without net neutrality, internet service providers could potentially discriminate against certain websites, applications, or online services, creating 'fast lanes' for companies willing to pay more while slowing down or limiting access to others. This could significantly impact the ability of individuals, small businesses, and independent media outlets to reach their audiences, ultimately shaping the media landscape and limiting the diversity of information and perspectives available on the internet and social media platforms.
• Analyze how the repeal of net neutrality rules in the United States could affect the types of media and the changing media landscape.
  • The repeal of net neutrality rules in the United States has the potential to significantly impact the types of media and the changing media landscape. Without the protections of net neutrality, internet service providers could prioritize certain types of media content, such as that from large corporations or media conglomerates, over smaller, independent, or alternative media outlets. This could lead to a concentration of power and influence in the hands of a few dominant players, limiting the diversity of voices and perspectives available to consumers. Additionally, the ability of new and innovative media platforms to emerge and compete could be hindered, as ISPs could charge higher fees or create 'fast lanes' that favor established players. The repeal of net neutrality rules could ultimately lead to a more controlled and homogenized media landscape, undermining the principles of a free and open internet.
• Evaluate the potential long-term implications of the absence of net neutrality on the internet and social media as platforms for the distribution and consumption of media content.
  • The absence of net neutrality rules could have significant long-term implications for the internet and social media as platforms for the distribution and consumption of media content. Without the principle of equal treatment of all internet traffic, internet service providers could potentially engage in practices such as throttling, blocking, or prioritizing certain types of content, effectively acting as gatekeepers and shaping the information and perspectives available to users. This could lead to a consolidation of power in the hands of a few dominant media companies or platforms, stifling innovation and diversity in the media landscape. Additionally, the lack of net neutrality could disproportionately impact marginalized communities and smaller, independent media outlets, limiting their ability to reach and engage with their audiences. In the long run, the absence of net neutrality could undermine the open and democratic nature of the internet, transforming it into a more controlled and commercialized space that favors the interests of large corporations over the free flow of information and the principles of a free press.

Related terms

ISP (Internet Service Provider): A company that provides internet access and related services to individuals and businesses, connecting them to the global internet network.

Bandwidth: The maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over an internet connection in a given amount of time, typically measured in bits per second (bps).

Throttling: The intentional slowing down or limiting of internet speeds by an ISP, often done to certain types of internet traffic or users.