What is Net Neutrality and why is it Under Threat?
A lot of Internet Service Providers or ISPs are claiming that video sharing and streaming websites are using up a lot of their bandwidth or network traffic, and want to start charging those websites a fee, or else they will slow down the bandwidth or internet traffic for those websites or services. Now, this will make watching a video on YouTube, streaming a movie on Netflix or other streaming websites a terrible experience, because the viewers will have to wait a long time for the video to start playing because of the long download or buffering time.
What is Net Neutrality?
Net Neutrality is the principle that internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products, services or websites.
How does Net Neutrality Affect Online Users?
So, I pay my ISP a lot of money for a fast internet connection, because I want to be able to watch YouTube videos, watch television online, and make video calls to my family and friends; but I won’t be able to do so, if my ISP decides that providers of the services that I have mentioned, need to pay a fee in order for me to reliably use their services.
With my very fast internet connection, I will not be able to reliably watch videos, stream movies or make video calls if the providers of these services refuse to pay the fees demanded by my ISP. So, what is the purpose of my fast internet connection that I have paid my ISP so much money for if they do not allow me to reliably use the services that I have purchased the fast internet connection for?
This is why my friend, Net Neutrality came about, to stop Internet Service Providers from determining which stream of data is allowed or not allowed to pass through their networks, or which application or content you are reliably allowed to use or watch.
Without Net Neutrality, an ISP can determine that it will not allow you to reliably stream videos from Netflix but may allow you to comfortably stream from their competitors.
If you want an open internet, which will allow you to use any online service or application, start by moving away from internet service providers (ISPs) that do not support Net Neutrality and start using ISPs that do.
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