Perpetual Thursday (PT) is a log of Patrick J. Simmons' thoughts, ideas, opinions, commentary, doings, and so so forth. In short, rambling, ranting, nonsense, and bunk.
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Scroll down for a moment - there is a big yellow image in the left side column. (If you're using a text-only browser or a screen reader, then just know its there - Lynx users, I salute you). The button reads, for those of you who cannot be bothered to look: "Save the Internet - Don't let Congress gut the Internet's First Amendment. CLICK HERE TO PRESERVE NET NEUTRALITY". Now to explain why I put this rather large advertisement in my blog.
Net Neutrality is a big issue right now (esp. in America, but internationally as well), but most of the general public doesn't know what it is, or how it effects them. As a matter of fact, a lot of the people who are making the legal decisions about it are oblivious about it as well.
To illustrate what net neutrality is, let us say that AT&T runs your internet service. Furthermore, let us say that AT&T has a partnership with Yahoo. Now, obviously, it is in AT&T's best interests that you use Yahoo instead of another site, say Google, right?
Well, net neutrality means that though they may want you to go to Yahoo instead of Google, there isn't anything they can really do about it, because all websites are to be treated neutrally.
But let's say there is no net neutrality... One day you pop on your computer and connect, through AT&T, to the web. First thing you head over to Google to do a search - but Google won't load! Instead you get a message saying that Google has been blocked by your internet provider, AT&T. Now what? Well, you end up using Yahoo instead, whether or not you want to. (I should note that, to the extent of my knowledge, AT&T does NOT have a partnership with Yahoo - I just though of Yahoo first.)
That's a pretty big problem, right? Think about it, big companies could block any website they want, and force you to go to their sites instead. Want to get your news from LifeSiteNews or WorldNetDaily? Too bad! AT&T says you're using FOX News instead! Feel like reading Fidelity to the Word? Natta! No small time bloggers, religious or otherwise, allowed! AT&T would rather you stick with the reporters they employ. After all, you never know what bloggers may say...
Obviously, net neutrality is important - not just for internet addicts and bloggers, but for the general public. Whether you use the internet every day or once a year - if net neutrality goes, who knows what will follow.
Labels: Politics, Tech/Internet
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