Right now if you go onto the Internet you are basically able to look at any webpage without any extra costs or exceptions. Internet subscribers sign up for service expecting they will get access to the entire Internet. Would it be foolish for a broadband provider to deliver anything else? The Internet is free and accessible for anyone to start up his or her own pages and applications. Currently you could create any webpage you want without interference. The pages online that become popular do so because Internet users find the services provided by the pages to be important.
Overall there is really no central control over the Internet. Although, this could change now since the Internet has switched from being run by dial-up to broadband companies. When the Internet used to be run by dial up it ran across telephone wires and benefited from rules that the phone companies had to deliver all Internet traffic without discrimination. These broadband carriers do not need to follow these non-discrimination rules.
Due to the fact that broadband carriers do not need to follow rules regarding non-discrimination this might create a problem. For example, if a new application is working poorly or slowly, is it because the new application is just not that good or is it the broadband provider interfering with its delivery? Consumers can’t really tell what’s going on, and the market can’t provide an effective check. Also, consumers don’t have a large number of broadband providers from which to choose. Does the Internet’s openness as we know it rest on thin ice so that there could someday be an access charge to Facebook and Twitter?
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I think right now, today, there isn't a big concern over our openness. That isn't saying that it could drastically change overnight, but I don't think this is an issue to be worried about until serious action is being talked about.
ReplyDeleteI think that there is enough people to fight the big companies who are pushing for a controlled internet where access charges are acquired for access to websites. I think that it is possible for this to happen, but I am hoping that it doesn't.
ReplyDeleteI think that with the proposed legislation, our open internet access may definitely be at risk. People need to become informed and take a stand. If this isn't something that people want, we have to be prepared to put up a fight.
ReplyDeleteBecause this issue is just arising I think that it will be awhile before any real action is took to prevent internet neutrality. If it does internet neutrality does get taken then yes, Facebook and Twitter will be charging to use their services. There would be a lot of finacial gain for them to charge.
ReplyDeleteNot right now at this time. Because there is no fee for anything then I don't think there is anything to worry about. If legislation determines otherwise, then it would be a problem for the sites mentioned above and I just won't use them or go to a site that isn't as popular or fun to do the things/communicate with those I want to.
ReplyDeleteRight now I'm not too concerned that the Internet is going to lose a lot of its openness, but I do think it is an issue to keep an eye on. If broadband companies begin charging for websites like facebook and twitter, I think that people will stop using them and a new form of facebook and twitter will be created.
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