Net Neutrality

What is Net Neutrality?

The basic concept of net neutrality is that everyone should be able to access the same content on the internet regardless of the device or internet service provider (ISP) they use. Also, the experience of accessing that content should be the same for everyone.

ISP's treat all content equally and not give preference to some digital content providers. That means the consumer can load every website, app, video, gif's, etc., equally, regardless of where the content is hosted. For example, an ISP may not charge more for sites that stream movies or promote a specific agenda. This is also referred to as the open internet

ISP's are considered as common carriers of public utilities. So an ISP must need to provide access to all the websites and data equally, regardless of their content.

Let's say you and I subscribe to different ISP. Under the concept of net neutrality, we should each be able to access the same websites and services equally. This should be the case even if you're getting on the web using a computer and I'm using a tablet (or any other web-enabled device).

For a more better explanation, consider you are subscribed to any ISP and streaming your favorite episodes from website 1, surfing your social media on website 2 and reading news on website 3. Under the current regulation, ISP are legally required to provide those sites to you at same speed. Opposing to the current regulation, ISP would recognize that you like website 1 and allow the website or you to pay a premium to fast-track the streaming of that site. Or the ISP could slow down your access to website 1, which process is called as throttling and force you to surf the content from website 2, 3 which you preferred to surf the social media and news.

Definition :

Net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers must treat all data on the Internet the same, and not discriminate or charge differently by user, content, website, platform, application, type of attached equipment, or method of communication. Under these principles, internet service providers are unable to intentionally block, slow down or charge money for specific websites and online content.