Tea Party groups have taken a strong stance against net neutrality. As The Hill reports, “[a] coalition that included 35 Tea Party groups sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday urging the agency not to boost its authority over broadband providers through a controversial process known as reclassification.”
The only thing that makes sense about the Tea Party’s stance against net neutrality is that they’re speaking out against another regulatory agency. However, as seemingly well-intended, yet obviously confused, as their position is, they’re letting their anti-big-government zealotry get in the way of logic and reason. The whole point of the net neutrality debate is to prevent service providers from favoring some content and applications over others. In the dispute between consumers (people who use the Internet) and providers (the corporate media giants), this Tea Party group is fighting for the latter. I don’t think they realize that they’re fighting on the side of Corporate America. Then again, maybe they do. Either way, what they fail to understand is that they WANT net neutrality.
Net neutrality assures that access to the Web and its content will not be blocked, slowed down, or sped up depending on where the access is based, or who owns the access point(s). It means that they will be able to access all the same websites that they’re now able to access — for free and at turbo speed. Unlike some countries (remember Google’s recent “Stop censoring us, or else we’re out of here!” threat to China?), when we get on the Web, we are able to access the entire Web: that means any website, any video, any download, any email.
There are many companies that have a vested interest in making sure that access to the Web is not freely available. These companies are already in charge of most of the Web’s infrastructure, and they see potential profit in making the Web “pay-as-you-surf.” This could result in restrictions on what Web users are able to search for, download, or read. Big Telecoms and cable companies want to restrict your access and charge you for web content that you’re now getting for free. They can also slow down your connection to a snail-mail pace and call that speed “fast,” and if you want “turbo-charged”….well…that’s gonna cost you more.
There’s something inherently wrong with a complete takeover by the government, or even by the telecommunication giants. The Internet is a useful tool, and like any tool it has the potential for misuse. A complete takeover could lead to the violation of net neutrality and freedom of speech.
The Upside to Having (Some) Government Regulations
I, for one, am all for regulation can help to curb the illegal activities over the Internet. We could use regulations that will help to prevent the ridiculously large number of financial frauds, phishing scams, identity thefts, credit card thefts and many other illegal activities that take place online. Some would argue that it’s “Freedom of Speech” that allows for online illegal activities, including child pornography. However, such activities are possible because the Internet is, and always has been, unregulated and unrestrained. Internet regulation could also include stringent policies over unjustified defamation, or situations such as online bullying that caused one (and maybe more) teenager to take her own life.
Bottom line is that Net neutrality is an issue that should be of concern to everyone who uses the Internet.
What can you do? Sign a petition at Save the Internet, or contact your representative and tell h/her to leave your internet access alone — if you want to continue to access the Net the way you have been, at the speed you’re used to, with the freedom to visit any Website you darn well feel like visiting. If you’re curious about your current Internet connection, or if you want to see if it’s being blocked or restricted, Measurement Lab has online tools that you can use to check your connection.
All I have to say to Michele Bachmann (“Michele Bachmann calls net neutrality an Obama Censorship Plot.”) and this “Tea Party Madness” over Net neutrality is……… BEEP! BEEP!!
Well, what can I say; In my line of work, I need Turbo Charged Internet access, and I cannot afford to pay a King’s Ransom for it. 
