Push for "net neutrality" stalls

Ray Jashembowski Current Issue#1


Title: Push for ‘net neutrality’stalls
Publisher: eSchool News online
Date: September 14, 2007
Author: eSchool News Staff and wire service reports
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=7364&page=1

Summary:
The issue discussed in this article is called “net neutrality.” Net neutrality is the practice of service providers to list or rank information how it sees fit, usually for a fee. When a search is performed the order in which the results appear is controlled by the provider. The argument suggests that educational use of the Internet is at stake with the current practices of companies paying for preferential listings to Internet providers. The supporters of net neutrality believe that all companies and websites should have equal representation on searches. Although the fight for such a cause is diminishing, some educational groups keep hope that net neutrality will one day be enforced. However, the justice department did rule on September 6th that “Internet service providers should be allowed to charge a fee for priority web traffic.”
The Department of Justice, who is looking into Internet practices, feels net neutrality has many implications that could essentially raise Internet service costs to the consumer. They also feel it could change how the Internet develops in the future. The different levels of service we now experience is driven by market forces and not regulation. The Department of Justice has taken much criticism from organizations and supporters for net neutrality.
Organizations like Goggle and Yahoo along with education groups feel that phone and cable companies could discriminate web sites and services if not regulated. EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association feels that charging is against the general principle of the Internet. Other top issues with this debate involve freedom of speech, equal access to information, and privacy and consumer rights. For now the supporters for net neutrality are loosing steam but will continue to fight.
My perspective for my environment says to leave the regulation out. Part of the learning process with Internet searching is filtering out useless information. Students have to make decisions and problem solve. A regulated search takes all of the unknowns out and would hinder students that can get creative while staying appropriate. Regulation itself is out of control as it is. This is a free country and if a persons business can make money and support this economy than good for them. Government should stay out of free enterprise. Besides, like the article mentioned, the price we pay now for Internet and other technology would increase with regulation.