Net Neutrality

Net Neutrality is defined as "the guiding principle that preserves the free and open internet", and it also means that "...internet service providers may not discriminate between different kinds of content and applications online, and it guarantees a level playing field for all Web sites and internet technologies"(savetheinternet.com)
Some questions surrounding net neutrality is why and how larger companies want to maintain and control which data is seen more by being able to control their streaming strength and capacity. These big companies also want to control how their data is stremed to people, and they also want to block other companies services and programs so as to benefit themselves and profits. Is it fair that companies would be allowed to do this? This would definitely affect us, as customers, and as researchers who use the internet because these companies would potentially be controlling what we see without us having a say in it.
The people who are for net neutrality are people who want to keep the internet free and for people who want to reform the media and how it is used. President Obama is a huge supporter or net neutrality and has pledge to support it and its fight in Congress. Small business owners also support net neutrality because it allows them to compete in a market, without having to pay a fee to compete on the internet for space, band width and speed of their cable/dsl. The people or groups who are against it are the large companies such as Comcast--because they want to be able to control a lot of what we view and more importantly would like to block other companies from having customers see their products. Companies, such as Comcast, do not want net neutrality because by enabling the internet to be free smaller companies have access without paying fees. Larger companies have been trying to pressure Congress to restrict net neutrality with paying them millions of dollars so they can eventually own the internet and its capabilities of serving customers.
I feel that net neutrality is good for our economy and for the service providers because it doesn't allow large companies to take advantage of smaller business owners and their capabilities but it does allow for us as consumers to be able to search the web, without knowing that others messages and websites are being blocked by big companies so that we may only be allowed to see one specific companies products. I also this net neutrality is a good idea because it enables small business owners to get in on the competition without having to pay an entry fee for the use of the internet and the service.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRh4sJAhL3I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-mW1qccn8k

http://techcrunch.com/2008/08/31/the-net-neutrality-debate-all-on-one-page/