Net Neutrality

Disclaimer: The communication is not intended to be a legal opinion of the author. The article is written for the sole purpose of complying with an academic requirement.


There could be some things that I don't understand as a mere internet user, but given the experiences and whatever understanding I have as a non-tech savvy and an ordinary "netizen", my stand in the issue of net neutrality depends on whether it pertains to "broadband provider - consumer" or "broadband provider - website owner".


When we select an internet service provider, we consider many things such as other's opinions, our own experiences and those of other people, the area where we will use the service, etc. Aside from the possibility of clogging the lines due to many users, the kinds of technology these providers could be using, and perhaps the proximity of the spot from the nearest satellite, how much you pay for your internet also says a lot about the quality of service that you will get. It's understandable that the channels through which internet data are being transmitted cannot handle everything and still work at its fastest and most efficient state. Hence, I don't see any harm or injustice in seeking to get fast internet connection if you need it and you are willing to pay for it. The needs of internet users vary, and we respond to it depending on our ability to address such needs. A big corporation that depends on data transmission obviously needs a faster internet connection than an individual who only uses the internet for personal purposes, so that big corporation could be willing to pay more. If an individual, however, desires to get fast internet connection, he may get it by paying more. The different internet connection packages offered by service providers are there to give us the freedom to choose the level of service we wish to get, and for me that is OK.


However, once you get your choice of an internet provider, you must have the right to expect equal access to all the contents of the web. Making those big websites, whose owners can pay the service providers, easier and faster to access and load data works to the disadvantage of small and less popular websites. If the internet is not neutral, providers can manipulate the lines to increase the speed of websites of entities who pay. And how do they get the extra speed? It could be by decreasing the speed of other websites whose owners pay less or cannot pay at all. Worse, websites of competitors could be blocked at all. This restricts freedom of information. I cannot apply here the reasoning I laid down in the "provider-consumer" aspect because it is my thinking that all websites have the same reason for being put on the web, and they have the same need to be viewed by people. They should be treated equally and generate traffic based on their merits, not on accessibility. Absence of net neutrality in this aspect is anti-competitive, unfair and oppressive.