The Internet is among the most useful tools created by mankind. The wealth of information transmitted over the Internet is astounding, and each day more people are delving into the most revolutionary invention of our time. One only needs to think back ten or so years ago to see how much the Internet has impacted his life. From simple tasks such as getting directions or buying movie tickets to reading the news or posting messages about political turmoil as it is happening, the Internet has had a major impact on how people view news, entertainment, and politics. Considering all these things, it is no wonder that providing Internet access is a lucrative business that many corporations would like to have a dominate hand in. Of course, we must be weary of the intentions of these corporations. Regulations on Internet service providers are critical to preserving the wealth of information and free exchange of ideas found on the Web. As such, regulations recently proposed by the FCC, upholding the principle of Net Neutrality, should receive the full support of Congress and the American people.
Net Neutrality is the idea that the Internet is an open forum of information, and as such, should not be subject to the economic motivations of competitive organizations. Competition is helpful for sparking innovation and producing new technologies, but it can prompt corporations to eliminate their customers' access to certain information. For example, Comcast would rather their customers not be able to view advertisements and other information from their competitors and may be motivated to block access or provide slower access to their competitors' online content. This, obviously, prevents the free flow of information that is the Internet's greatest characteristic. In 2008, Comcast was implicated in slowing down its customers' access to legal peer-to-peer sharing programs. This case highlights the real need for regulations by the FCC.
The FCC's regulations would be built upon four principles set down by former FCC Chairman Michael Powell in 2004. Those principles are that "consumers should be free to access legal content, use the legal applications of their choice, attach personal devices to the Internet as long as they are not harmful, and access the services of their choice."
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