Alan Wilson

net neutrality = vibrant high tek economy

If net neutrality goes high tech industry will follow. It is as simple as that. The innovators will seek a level playing field. Do not let that field be in another country. Remember : Microsoft started with one man programming in his living room, Apple with two men building their computers in a garage, Google started with one man, e-bay started with one woman, pay pal with one man, Dell with one man building computers in his dorm room... These were all mom and pop startups.

Now the most fertile ground for innovation is on the net. But how can the next generation of these mom and pop innovators compete if they do not have a level playing field? They can not.

If this economic argument is not enough, then I will give an ethical argument:

First let us make sure that we understand something about the technology. Bandwidth is not like water flowing through a pipe. Bandwidth is not like electricity flowing through a wire. This is because the type of content that is delivered to the client is in effect dependent on the bandwidth. For instance streaming video is not effective at a low bandwidth. If you turn the water pressure down you still get water coming out of the spigot.

Further more there are many business models in which the client pays one set price then use what is wanted when it is wanted. When I buy a gallon of milk I am not forced to drink it then and there. I own that quantity of milk and may consume it as I choose.

Given these realities it is clearly unethical for the few private media giants to sell this valuable public resource at a skewed prices.

It is both unethical and bad business to let go of net neutrality.