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'''Network neutrality''' is a topic currently under debate regarding whether [[Internet service provider]]s have the right to charge [[website]]s on the [[internet]] for "premium" connections. Many contend that this is that this would disrupt the continuity of the online community by relegating unpopular and less affluent websites to "second class citizens" that would serve their pages much slower than the ones who can pay the bandwidth providers.  Others argue that a law requiring Network neutrality would prevent Internet service providers from providing superior services to those who need it.

'''Network neutrality''' is a topic currently under debate regarding whether [[Internet service provider]]s have the right to charge [[website]]s on the [[internet]] for "premium" connections. Many contend that this is that this would disrupt the continuity of the online community by relegating unpopular and less affluent websites to "second class citizens" that would serve their pages much slower than the ones who can pay the bandwidth providers.  Others argue that a law requiring Network neutrality would prevent Internet service providers from providing superior services to those who need it.

Many corporations and advocacy groups support neutrality regulations, while hardware companies and providers themselves tend to be against it. Some great figures of the internet also oppose it, such as David Farber, noted for major contributions to programming languages and computer networking, and Bob Kann, who helped invent the TCP/IP technologies used to transmit information on the Internet.

Many corporations and advocacy groups support neutrality regulations, while hardware companies and providers themselves tend to be against it. Some great figures of the internet also oppose it, such as David Farber, noted for major contributions to programming languages and computer networking, and Bob Kann, who helped invent the TCP/IP technologies used to transmit information on the Internet.

On September 21, 2009, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski proposed increased FCC enforcement of already-existing "net neutrality" rules. He and his supporters described the possible new regulations as keeping the internet open; Genachowski himself said "I am convinced that there are few goals more essential in the communications landscape than preserving and maintaining an open and robust Internet," and Democratic Representative Ed Markey called the proposal "a significant step towards preserving the free and open nature" of the Internet.<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125354032776727741.html</ref>

Internet providers, however, tend to see no need for increased regulation, and fear that with increased use of bandwidth through applications such as video downloads, their networks could be overloaded if they are not allowed to control them. Jim Cicconi, a high-level employee at AT&T, said that AT&T would be "very disappointed if [the FCC] has already drawn a conclusion to regulate wireless services despite the absence of any compelling evidence of problems or abuse that would warrant government intervention." Chris Guttman-McCabe, a vice president at wireless trade group CTIA, said "We are concerned about the unintended consequences that Net neutrality regulation would have on investments from the very industry that's helping to drive the U.S. economy." <ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090919/ap_on_go_ot/us_internet_rules</ref>

 

 

Internet providers, however, tend to see no need for increased regulation, and fear that with increased use of bandwidth through applications such as video downloads, their networks could be overloaded if they are not allowed to control them. Jim Cicconi, a high-level employee at  AT&T, said that AT&T would be "very disappointed if [the FCC] has already drawn a conclusion to regulate wireless services despite the absence of any compelling evidence of problems or abuse that would warrant government intervention." Chris Guttman-McCabe, a vice president at wireless trade group CTIA, said "We are concerned about the unintended consequences that Net neutrality regulation would have on investments from the very industry that's helping to drive the U.S. economy." <ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090919/ap_on_go_ot/us_internet_rules</ref>

On September 21, 2009, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski proposed increased FCC enforcement of already-existing "net neutrality" rules. He and his supporters described the possible new regulations as keeping the internet open; Genachowski himself said "I am convinced that there are few goals more essential in the communications landscape than preserving and maintaining an open and robust Internet," and Democratic Representative Ed Markey called the proposal "a significant step towards preserving the free and open nature" of the Internet.<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125354032776727741.html</ref><ref>http://news.cnet.com/Qwest-CEO-supports-tiered-Internet/2100-1034_3-6050109.html</ref>

If, as critics of "net neutrality" fear, regulations actually cause networks to be swamped and slowed by increased bandwidth use, the internet could become less usable for everyone.

On April 7, 2010, a federal appeals court ruled that the FCC did not have the power to regulate this issue. Congress still retains the right to regulate net neutrality and/or delegate additional powers to the FCC.<ref>http://www.infoworld.com/d/the-industry-standard/court-rules-against-fccs-comcast-net-neutrality-decision-634</ref>

==References==

==References==