Net Neutrality aka Network Neutrality or Internet Neutrality

The term "Net Neutrality" (and all the associated aliases) is like the Internets version of it exercising its First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and to not differentiate between how data is processed.

So what does this mean to all of us? Specifically, network neutrality would prevent restrictions on content, sites, platforms, types of equipment that may be attached, and modes of communication. Second, it makes illegal any kind of restrictions on data and how it is transferred and this is actually a problem that is challenging the legitimacy of the campaign in support-of this effort.

While very notable people such as Vinton Cerf, considered a "father of the Internet" and co-inventor of the Internet Protocol, Tim Berners-Lee, creator of the Web, and many others have spoken out in favor of network neutrality so where could the downside be?

Just like the "Pro" position has some credible endorsements so does the "Con" side in Bob Kahn, co-inventor of the Internet Protocol, has called the term net neutrality a "slogan" and states that he opposes establishing it, but he admits that he is against the fragmentation of the net whenever this becomes excluding to other participants. Opponents of net neutrality regulation also argue that the best solution to discrimination by broadband providers is to encourage greater competition among such providers, which is currently limited in many areas and as always money and the Oligopoly that controls our channels of communication want to keep it limited. Also, some claim that differentiating content and types of traffic is the only effective way to manage and deliver content as quickly as possible to such a vast user group.

These rules are set to be enforced this November, but many lawsuits have been filed and more are to come that want to block this effort for the reasons stated. Who will win? Hopefully the American people overall, but probably only a few law firms and a couple of mega-conglomerants will benefit.