This remarkably well-presented presentation arguing for net neutrality very clearly explains the problem of network neutrality. The short version is that companies providing internet access (for a fee, mind you) to companies that create and/or host content (web sites like YouTube, Slashdot, Yahoo!, and Google) are toying with the notion of charging extra to web sites that want “higher priority” access. That is, they want to create a “tiered” internet that delivers packets to you not as quickly as possible no matter where they’re from, but that delivers those packets to you faster if the entity sending them has paid extra for top priority.

Why is this a bad thing? Because it instantly transforms the internet from a level playing field where everyone can play on even footing to a split network where people with deep pockets are the only ones that will be assured of getting any useful bandwidth. All of the “little people” like us get to fight it out over the scraps. You likely wouldn’t be able to even visit a site like mine if I don’t pay the fee — all the “high priority” packets will be clogging the pipes.

Go watch that video (and look at the mockup for future internet service providers’ pricing — imagine an internet where you pay a different fee depending on which sites you want to be able to access, just like how cable and satellite providers now charge for different programming packages). It’s amusing, and it’s important. Don’t let them pull this off without a fight.

Technorati Tags: Internet Politics