You've probably heard of net neutrality; here's why it's important.
The UpTake: Net neutrality is in the headlines in a big way thanks to today's FCC hearing on new rules of the road for how content is provided on the Internet. Here's what you need to know about net neutrality if you're just tuning into the contentious debate over the future of the "Open Internet".
I t's a big day for net neutrality, but what is it exactly?
Strictly speaking, net neutrality is the principle that Internet Service Providers must treat all online content equally, without making one company's content available faster than another. In 2010, the FCC enshrined net neutrality with its "Open Internet Order" establishing regulations to uphold net neutrality, but a federal court ruled in January that the agency had overstepped its bounds.
So, we're back to the drawing board with the FCC proposing new rules today that would allow Internet Service Providers to make deals with companies to provide a "fast lane" for their content, while still barring them from slowing down or blocking other sites. The proposal is now open for public comment and expect there to be lots of it.
What does this mean? Understanding net neutrality means getting a better grasp of how the largely unseen infrastructure of the Internet that most of us take for granted actually works. Scroll down for one of the best explanations we've seen yet ( via The New York Times) of what net neutrality is and why it's important.
Alex is a Brooklyn-based freelance journalist. He writes about media entrepreneurs and creatives for Upstart Business Journal.
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