Net Neutrality

A Comcast technician arrived at a consumer's home to fix a technical problem. The technician called the Comcast support line, his employer's support line. He was on hold for an hour. He fell asleep on the consumer's couch. The consumer recorded the incident and Nightline reported on it.

When Comcast customers went online to view the Nightline broadcast, Comcast had edited out the segment about their atrocious customer service.

Here is the consumer's video about the experience:


Comcast practiced censorship.

Some people in America think that access to the internet should be presented in a neutral manner by ISPs. The people controlling access to the internet should not be editing or censoring the content. Each American should be free to choose which content to consume.

Content owners (networks, publishers, etc.) are welcome to edit and present their content as they see fit; but the person supplying my connection to the internet should not further control the publisher's content.

This notion is called Net Neutrality and here is the Wikipedia entry about it.

Net neutrality is a good idea.

IP & Democracy reports on the efforts of Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) to ensure net neutrality.

See if your Senator supports net neutrality.

Here is Google's Guide To Net Neutrality.

The Senate even held a hearing about Net Neutrality.

Net neutrality is important. You should pay attention to it. You should take a position. You should make your position known to your elected officials.