Net neutrality and the South Bay
Courtesy SavetheInternet.com
There are few more important issues facing consumers and businesses in the South Bay than at what speed your internet connection will work. Quite a statement, but, considering the ubiquity of internet-enabled devices in our homes, businesses and on our bodies, the speed at which it works will greatly affect our economic growth, productivity and equanimity.
The great internet argument is whether the providers of access to it have the right to provide a “faster lane” to people who pay a higher fee for that service. It is not unlike the experiment in “Lexus Lanes” on the 110 and 10 freeways near downtown, providing an opportunity to pay for avoiding traffic on the regular flow lanes.
One would think that it is un-American to refuse this opportunity. But, Net Neutrality, as the concept of maintaining equal internet access speeds for everyone is called, has far greater implications than would appear on the surface. That’s because this is about entrepreneurship, not just faster browsing.
A little history.
In 1991, the then Senator from Tennessee, Al Gore, offered legislation, known as the Gore Act, to fund the development of what became the internet. (Yes, he was mostly right in what he said.) This was after he had heard a presentation, “Toward a national research network,” by Leonard Kleinrock, one of the creators of the internet precursor system called ARPANET.
The vision was breathtaking and expensive. The funding was delivered and, with later government funded inventions, such as Mosaic, the first browser, the internet as we know it was born.
The privatization of government programs is not unique. Many have become essential elements in our lives. However, few have had the invasive power of this new communications system, which is why the Federal Communications Act, which regulates telephone and internet commerce, was promulgated to keep these unique services under the control of the government.
The argument comes down to what is a “common carrier.” Title II of that law states that common carriers, which are licensed services for the general public, can’t “make any unjust or unreasonable discrimination in charges, practices, classifications, regulations, facilities or services.” If the internet is covered by this, then a two-tiered pricing system would be illegal.
This is important to the South Bay because our burgeoning technology development business is reliant upon fast internet access to attract customers/users to their sites. With the advent of higher speed devices, such as the most recent smartphones and tablets, the patience people have for delay is diminishing. Slow sites lose or don’t even develop customers.
Should it be the government’s role to make sure a level playing field is in place for internet commerce? In my opinion, yes. The growth of new businesses during the past five years, the engine of the new technology economy, has relied, in part, upon an even level of speed of information delivery. Cherry-picking the winners and losers by creating electronic “Lexus Lanes” is not in the
Purview of the government.
We need equal access to the speed of the internet. Our economy is reliant upon it.