What is net
neutrality?
Net neutrality is an idea derived from how telephone lines
have worked since the beginning of the 20th century. In case of a telephone
line, you can dial any number and connect to it. It does not matter if you are
calling from operator A to operator B. It doesn't matter if you are calling a
restaurant or a drug dealer. The operators neither block the access to a number
nor deliberately delay connection to a particular number, unless forced by the
law. Most of the countries have rules that ask telecom operators to provide an
unfiltered and unrestricted phone service.
When the internet started to take off in 1980s and 1990s,
there were no specific rules that asked that internet service providers (ISPs)
should follow the same principle. But, mostly because telecom operators were
also ISPs, they adhered to the same principle. This principle is known as net
neutrality. An ISP does not control the traffic that passes its servers. When a
web user connects to a website or web service, he or she gets the same speed.
Data rate for Youtube videos and Facebook photos is theoretically same. Users
can access any legal website or web service without any interference from an
ISP.
How did net
neutrality shape the internet?
Net neutrality has shaped the internet in two fundamental
ways.
One, web users are free to connect to whatever website or
service they want. ISPs do not bother with what kind of content is flowing from
their servers. This has allowed the internet to grow into a truly global
network and has allowed people to freely express themselves. For example, you
can criticize your ISP on a blog post and the ISP will not restrict access to
that post for its other subscribers even though the post may harm its business.
But more importantly, net neutrality has enabled a level
playing field on the internet. To start a website, you don't need lot of money
or connections. Just host your website and you are good to go. If your service
is good, it will find favour with web users. Unlike the cable TV where you have
to forge alliances with cable connection providers to make sure that your
channel reaches viewers, on internet you don't have to talk to ISPs to put your
website online. This has led to creation Google, Facebook, Twitter and
countless other services. All of these services had very humble beginnings.
They started as a basic websites with modest resources. But they succeeded
because net neutrality allowed web users to access these websites in an easy
and unhindered way.
What will happen if there is no net neutrality?
If there is no net neutrality, ISPs will have the power (and inclination) to shape internet traffic so that they can derive extra benefit from it. For example, several ISPs believe that they should be allowed to charge companies for services like YouTube and Netflix because these services consume more bandwidth compared to a normal website. Basically, these ISPs want a share in the money that YouTube or Netflix make.
Without net neutrality, the internet as we know it will not exist. Instead of free access, there could be "package plans" for consumers. For example, if you pay Rs 500, you will only be able to access websites based in India. To access international websites, you may have to pay a more. Or maybe there can be different connection speed for different type of content, depending on how much you are paying for the service and what "add-on package" you have bought.
Lack of net neutrality, will also spell doom for innovation on the web. It is possible that ISPs will charge web companies to enable faster access to their websites. Those who don't pay may see that their websites will open slowly. This means bigger companies like Google will be able to pay more to make access to Youtube or Google+ faster for web users but a startup that wants to create a different and better video hosting site may not be able to do that.
Will the concept of net neutrality survive?
Net neutrality is sort of gentlemen's agreement. It has survived so far because few people realized the potential of internet when it took off around 30 years ago. But now when the internet is an integral part of the society and incredibly important, ISPs across the world are trying to get the power to shape and control the traffic. But there are ways to keep net neutrality alive.
Consumers should demand that ISPs continue their hands-off approach from the internet traffic. If consumers see a violation of net neutrality, they ought to take a proactive approach and register their displeasure with the ISP. They should also reward ISPs that uphold the net neutrality