You Never Know What You Have

Save the Internet

You may not like everything you find on the Internet. But ask yourself this: would you really want to lose it?

When we log onto the Internet, we take a lot for granted. We assume we’ll be able to access any Web site we want, whenever we want, at the fastest speed, whether it’s a corporate or mom-and-pop site. We assume that we can use any service we like–watching online video, listening to podcasts, sending instant messages–anytime we choose.                                                 

What makes all these assumptions possible is Network Neutrality.

Net Neutrality is the no discrimination concept behind the free and open Internet. It enables both major corporations–and the lowest level employees who work for them–to have equal playing fields on the Internet.

Net Neutrality prevents Internet providers from speeding up or slowing down Web content based on its source, ownership or destination.

But net neutrality is facing challenges from some of the nation’s largest telephone and cable companies, including AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and Time Warner, who want to decide which Web sites go fast or slow and which won’t load at all–and have proposed taxing providers to guarantee fast delivery of data.

Take a look at the video for more information. Mark Lesswing, chief technology officer of the National Association of Realtors, says he was “turned on to the video by Doug Whitehouse, a member of the NAR Business Issues Committee.” I liked the production, use of medium and of course, the cause. NAR has been active on technology issues like this, on behalf of members, through the Government Affairs division,” he explains.