Net neutrality - Research Paper Example

In 2010, the FCC imposed network neutrality regulations on both wireless and wired broadband-access providers (Hazlett 1). The agency claims that the design of the internet was such that there would be no “gatekeepers”. Despite there being disputes, the FCC has moved ahead to vote in new rules that will affect the regulation of broadband internet in the U.S. (Kovach). The FCC’s proposal is bad because exercising of unfettered control over people’s use of the internet creates risks to economic and technological growth, and it poses a real threat to freedom of speech and the future of the United States’ democracy (Hazlett 1).

Kovach argues that we have two sides in dispute concerning net neutrality. Providers aim at regulating their broad band so that they can utilize it to pursue their own interests to favor their own internet service provision. On the other side, there are the proponents of “internet neutrality” who believe that in order to foster economic growth and innovation; the government should regulate the internet. The FCC chair’s proposal says that companies which stream content, if they wish, they should be able to pay internet providers for direct access to customers.

This will result in increased streaming speeds. The proposal goes ahead to protect companies that cannot or do not want to pay for the direct access to customers. This means that internet service providers (ISPs) will be prohibited from slowing down the streaming speed for those who eat up more bandwidth and treat those services like any other data. This is not the right solution because it gives huge companies with a lot of money an advantage over the start up companies, which cannot be able to afford paying for direct access to internet users.

According to Gustin, the young firms must rely on the certainty of rules that do not discriminate for them to grow, build new technologies and create jobs. In addition, the consumer will also suffer