Net Neutrality

Gnomie Ian writes:

Hi, Chris!

I used to come into your chat room often under the ID: Ian. Sadly, I’m so busy these days I can’t even find time for myself. I still watch your videos on YouTube and think they are top-rated. Keep up the good work, mate!

Here is my question.

With your own personal problems having to use Comcast, I wonder how you feel about big ISP companies trying to take away net neutrality. Google explains it best:

Network neutrality is the principle that Internet users should be in control of what content they view and what applications they use on the Internet. The Internet has operated according to this neutrality principle since its earliest days. Indeed, it is this neutrality that has allowed many companies, including Google, to launch, grow, and innovate.

Fundamentally, net neutrality is about equal access to the Internet. In our view, the broadband carriers should not be permitted to use their market power to discriminate against competing applications or content. Just as telephone companies are not permitted to tell consumers who they can call or what they can say, broadband carriers should not be allowed to use their market power to control activity online.

Today, the neutrality of the Internet is at stake as the broadband carriers want Congress’s permission to determine what content gets to you first and fastest. Put simply, this would fundamentally alter the openness of the Internet.

My opinion is: If the ISP giants are able to control the Internet, then we have to confess to ourselves that we no longer live in a free world. Net neutrality has made the Internet a huge stepping stone in the world today. It gives us the ability to easily gain knowledge with the press of a key and the click of a mouse. Self-employed people have been able to make small or big successes all because of the Internet and the rights it stands on today.

If people don’t take a stand against these greedy companies today, then the Internet, as we know it, will be gone tomorrow.

“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” - Lord Acton

Wish you & Ponzi well. The same to everyone in the chat room!

Ian, The Scotsman in Texas

PS: Thought the Scottish food video was funny. I live in the states now — let me tell you, there also some nasty foods here.