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 or websites.
During the most recent comment period, the Federal Communications Commission has received an overwhelming response from the public on this issue. In addition, Google as well as other companies are in support of the initiative. Orion Czarnecki Founder/Director of the security company known as Threat Level. He says when it comes to “paid privatization,” a phrase that’s at the heart of the issue, an ISP can charge a service provider or edge provider an additional fee for faster access by end users.
“The issue comes down to options,” Czarnecki explains “Mr. and Mrs. Smith on any street of America, don’t have a lot of options when they sign up for internet service at home. So what we essentially have is this market where we have very few options, and when they sign up for internet service, it’s up to their ISP to dictate to them in this new world of fast and slow lanes, what services they’ll get. Slower or faster according to what they’re looking for, so far we haven’t had to deal with that. Everything’s been open, everything’s been neutral in terms of traffic.”
July 18th was the end of the initial phase of the FCC public comment period. Now Czarnecki says we’re now in the public response period, where the public can respond to comments that have been posted so far. Visit http://www.fcc.gov/comments for more information.
