Andrew Kriz

An Open and Neutral Internet is Vital for Development

To me the internet is very much like a public library. The goal of a public library is to promote (without discrimination) lifelong learning and education through equal access, and freedom. The internet, like a library, allows people easy access to information and services in an equal and open manner. As a student and an American, I strongly value easy and equal access to information for the sake of education and innovation. Education leads to smarter citizens which leads to innovation which leads better government and more.
"Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government." -Thomas Jefferson, 1789

Should Net Neutrality not exist it would allow corporate interests to interfere with the flow of information throughout the internet. For example if a person wanted to read a web article by the NY Times his/her internet service provider (ISP) could sensor the article because the ISP is business partners with the LA Times. Such censorship and limitations could close off parts of the internet from itself. This would hinder the internet from achieving it's very purpose, to allow indiscriminate and easy communication of information globally. The ease of communication is the very reason why the internet has grown so massively and lead to the development of new technologies and growth of the world economy. Should America allow corporate interests to prevail above Net Neutrality the rest of the world's free and open internet will continue to develop explosively and America will be left behind.