Regardless of the topic, there will always be pros and cons to everything. In regard to net neutrality, there is not a lack of either. Some of the pros of the concept of net neutrality are for starters the idea that there are no internet restrictions. You can access any information at ease aside from the things the local government decides to lock. You are free to send what you what in e-mails, messaging, facebook, and tweet what you like. Another pro is the rate at which information can be accessed is equal across the board. YOu can download photos and videos at a constant rate. With net neutrality nothing is censored so you can access upload and say what you would like across the internet; all of which falls under the first amendment of free speech. With net neutrality everything is an equal playing field. No site would get priority over another. Google wouldn't trump Yahoo! and Netflix wouldn't trump Hulu.
But, all that being said it has its cons as well. Without net neutrality websites could charge for access to certain parts of the internet. Certain websites would have less importance than other sites and their information wouldn't be able to be as easily accessed as the other sites would be. The government could censor all of the things viewed on the internet and the idea of free speech demolished. People couldn't view and access what they want. Another con of net neutrality is since everything is easily accessible say a child was going on the internet it would be extremely easy for them to wander onto the wrong page. Another con would be that since it is a matter of free speech and we can say what ever we would like, say someone started a website talking about how to make bombs and explode buildings... a lot of information would end up in the wrong hands. But with net neutrality they can't do anything about it.
Net neutrality has been in the news a lot recently in regards to comcast and Netflix. It was a deal made between the two companies in order to connect netflix users to comcasts server with a undisclosed fee. It has something to do with making the streaming more efficient. The controversy is saying that Netflix isn't going to get preferential treatment on the web but something is definitely brewing. This new deal is striking up a lot of talk about net neutrality and if they can actually do what they are planning on doing. Comcast is rumored to be buying Time Warner Cable. If they do this they are going to be in control of 1/3 of all broadband providers. It's a sneaky way to get around the idea of Net neutrality. They are taking control and getting more access on the internet without directly taking it.
I'm not honestly sure how this recent news would affect me personally. Yes, I am a loyal netflix watcher. But would my web browsing become slower since my internet provider is AT&T and not comcast? This is something I'm am not so sure of. I guess it is something we will learn to find out in the months to come.
I feel as though there should continue to be net neutrality. The internet is a free space where people can express themselves and learn new things. We preach free speech so we should always be allowed that liberty. All sites should be created equal just like all people should be. If people don't want their children seeing something on the web there are software programs they can specifically buy to fit their needs. All websites should have the right to run and download and do all of those things equally. It's worked thus far, why change it now?
http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/24/netflix-comcast-and-net-neutrality/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0
The link above gave me a lot of new in site on what is going on with net neutrality now and how it could affect us down the road.
http://inthecapital.streetwise.co/2014/03/20/118917/
This Article was also interesting on the topic and gave me in site on the possible comcast and time warner merger. These things could potentially change how the internet is going to work differently for a long way to come.
