Net Neutrality: post your opinion!

[lifeisbetterwithketchup]

Alright, for my Government class I have to research an issue and do a bunch of stuff about it (find an interest group for it, etc). For one part of it I have to find the "public opinion on the issue". My issue is net neutrality. For the most part, the general public doesn't know what the hell net neutrality is. Now, I know this forum is not exactly the general public, but you'll do.

So: post away about your opinions on net neutrality, but please don't get too political.

And yes, the benheck.com forums is my personal army.

[eagle5953]

I understand why people don't want corporations limiting speeds or walling off parts of the internet; however, keep the government out of my internets!

Oh, I don't mind their current presence as far as nabbing perverts or allowing tax filing online - that's all well and good. What I don't want to see is a draconian, heavy-handed bureaucracy that stifles the freedom of expression that is currently enjoyed (in the interest of 'fairness' or 'equality' or whatever other reason they choose to give). Any substantial increased regulation of the internet will impinge on freedom of expression online. The day the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" is extended to include the internet will be a sad day indeed.

Regulation online is an extremely slippery slope, and we citizens must be vigilant to protect our First Amendment rights to freedom of expression.

I am not a Libertarian or anything like that; I just want the relatively unrestricted freedom found online to remain.

[nevermind1534]

I like net neutrality.

[ShockSlayer]

I'll be the first: What is net neutrality? Or, more specific, what will your definition of net neutrality be?

SS

[nevermind1534]

I'll be the first: What is net neutrality? Or, more specific, what will your definition of net neutrality be?

SS

Not treating different types of internet traffic or different users differently from anything/anybody else.

Like my use of the work "different?"

[palmertech]

Net neutrality is important. At the same time, the government should GTFO of private enterprise, and realistically, the internet service providers should be able to do what they want; The internet is not a right, it is a service you pay for. If you do not like a companys policy, move to another. I don't want the government getting involved on either side.

I used to be a lot more fired up over this, but on further reflcextion, it makes perfect sense. If a cable internet company owns, runs, and maintains lines, and you have a few torrent hogs like me eating all the bandwidth, they have every right to limit you; How is it fair, when they have limited capacity, to let a few pirates ruin the experience for everyone else on the block? If I ran the service, I would do the same thing, and most likely, you would too.

[lifeisbetterwithketchup]

I'll be the first: What is net neutrality? Or, more specific, what will your definition of net neutrality be?

SS

In my essay, I'm simply defining it as "the idea that all data on the Internet should be treated equally".

[Triton]

If you do not like a companys policy, move to another

The problem with that line of thinking is in a LOT of areas, especially rural areas, there ARE NO OTHER COMPANIES. where i live for example, i have the choice of having dialup, Iowatelecom DSL or some form of outrageously expensive satellite internet. there are NO other options. in other places its even worse. i still know people who cant get anything but dialup access or satellite.

as to net neutrality i am all for it, what the cable companies and other ISPs are getting away with now is criminal enough in my eyes with their throttling, port blocking and so forth. i think if you pay for a certain connection rate you should get that connection rate period. not you pay for this connection rate and you get 85% of that average and they maintain the right to choke the crap out of your connection whenever you USE IT, whenever they want and thats a load of crap to me

[grossaffe]

simple: Keep the government the **** out of my internets

[Rekarp]

If you do not like a companys policy, move to another

The problem with that line of thinking is in a LOT of areas, especially rural areas, there ARE NO OTHER COMPANIES. where i live for example, i have the choice of having dialup, Iowatelecom DSL or some form of outrageously expensive satellite internet. there are NO other options. in other places its even worse. i still know people who cant get anything but dialup access or satellite.

There is satellite internet

All joking aside. As I said before government should be as small as possible. America made a big mistake not voting for Ron Paul. The only candidate that actually wanted change for the good of America. To bad we voted in a socialistic president that wants to mold America into a commie state and wants to strip away the freedoms of the people even more then GWB did in his 8 years of terror on the USA.

[madc0w]

simple: Keep the government the **** out of my internets

No. We need the government to regulate the Internet to make it Neutral. Net Neutrality is necessary for our type of internet. What if benheck was slow as balls to load? You would be pissed. That could very well happen.

[Sparkfist]

The government need only tell companies that charging different fees for the same internet is like charging money to legally go faster in the express lane on the highway. I don't want the government to have anymore involvement then that, cause their bound to mess up.

The idea of the internet is that it's a network of ideas, so really you can't control the internet as whole, and really only a small part. I don't like the idea that being limited or controlled in anyway, shape or form. It's criminal to hinder the exchange of ideas simply for the gain of money.

I will consed that the work done to capture pedophiles is for the best. The thing about that is that it doesn't impede on systems or rights, it works to catch those sickos in the act, not spy on people to find them.

-Sparkfist

[nevermind1534]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cZC67wXUTs

[gamecube6]

simple: Keep the government the **** out of my internets

No. We need the government to regulate the Internet to make it Neutral. Net Neutrality is necessary for our type of internet. What if benheck was slow as balls to load? You would be pissed. That could very well happen.

Wouldn't that have less to do with the government and more to do with the server and the ISP's taking responsibilty?

[nevermind1534]

simple: Keep the government the **** out of my internets

No. We need the government to regulate the Internet to make it Neutral. Net Neutrality is necessary for our type of internet. What if benheck was slow as balls to load? You would be pissed. That could very well happen.

Wouldn't that have less to do with the government and more to do with the server and the ISP's taking responsibilty?

But people (like the guy in the video that I posted a link to) think it should be legal to do that.