Net Neutrality Makes For Strange Bedfellows
I am not real sure how this is effecting the rest of the world but I would think it would create concern the world over if the US gives up on Net Neutrality. What is Net Neutrality? Here is the first paragraph from Wikipedia.
Network neutrality (equivalently net neutrality, Internet neutrality or simply NN) refers to a principle that is applied to residential broadband networks, and potentially to all networks. Precise definitions vary, but a broadband network free of restrictions on the kinds of equipment that may be attached, on the modes of communication allowed, that does not restrict content, sites, or platforms and where communication is not unreasonably degraded by other communication streams would be considered neutral by most observers.
What does this have to do with strange bedfellows?
Believe it or not but Pearl Jam, The Christian Coalition, NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League), OK Go and the ACLU join together in Washington to discuss net neutrality with the House Judiciary Committee's Antitrust Taskforce. I am not sure how this issue is being viewed oin other countries but here I see it as a major juncture for free speech and idea sharing on the web. I hate to say this but in these kinds of matters as the US goes, so goes the world. If we can get away with it anyone can. So if the internet is turned into in a place where only certain companies get the full benefit of the net then it becomes no better than the boob tube sitting in your house with some one else choosing what content you have access to. Maybe that is overstating what may lay ahead but not by much. Can you say 1984, I knew you could.
I almost forgot the article can be found here.