To put it simply, net neutrality is the idea that all internet traffic should be treated equally. High-bandwidth traffic, including video, should be accessible for everyone connected to the internet, and not available as a service for the highest bidder or a select group of consolidated content creators.

Net neutrality is non-discrimination, meaning that all content, sites, and platforms should be treated alike and without preferential bias. Under proposed “net neutrality” rules, Internet Service Providers would be required to preserve the end-to-end principle of the internet. ISPs would be barred from speeding up, or slowing down, or blocking content depending on its source or destination. Net neutrality would stave off the prospect of a tiered service model for internet subscriptions that could restrict user innovation and disrupt competitive pricing.

The Internet Freedom Preservation act was introduced to the House of Representatives in July of 2009, and while not the first attempt at codifying net neutrality, it comes at an important turning point. The bill stipulates a non-discriminatory, open internet for all producers and consumers of content and services, and follows that the FCC create and enforce rules accordingly. The legal climate for regulating this field is changing continually, but support for a neutral platform must remain a dedicated work in progress. Net neutrality is often taken for granted, but remains an essential aspect of our experience on the web and the sustainability of its future.

More info:
Federal Communication Commission’s Openinternet.gov
Google Guide to Net Neutrality
Free Press
SaveTheInternet.org
OVA interview with Free Press
Center For Digital Democracy

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