Starting with the Basics

In your home, if you wanted access to the internet, you would need a computer (or other device) connected to a router that is connected to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). In order to have access to an ISP, you'll need to pay some monthly cost. Some examples of ISPs are Comcast, AT&T, Time Warner Cable, etc...

What is Net Neutrality?

Net Neutrality (or Network Neutrality), is the idea that the internet is a public commodity that EVERYONE should have equal and unhampered access to it. This means that everyone accessing the internet is the same, regardless if you are Amazon, a small startup with a website, or even a normal citizen accessing internet from your home. Everyone should have the same level of access to the internet.

Net Neutrality is overseen by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission).

All Internet Traffic is Created Equally

Net Neutrality is especially beneficial to developers or smaller companies who create sites or applications on the web attempting to compete with bigger companies. Speed and bandwidth remains equal across sites and applications of all standings.

OK, so what's the big deal?

Big ISPs are attempting to dismantle Net Neutrality by asking Congress to pass legislation allowing them to control which sites get priority over others. Now what this will do is provide priority bandwidth to the big players in the game.

Netflix for example, could pay ISPs a large sum of money to prioritize streaming services over everything else, while hindering competition of say a smaller company attempting to get into the streaming services industry. All customers using the particular ISP will have higher speeds when accessing Netflix rather than the other streaming service. Who wouldn't want to access the site with the higher speed?

If Net Neutrality is dismantled, then we will see problems with discrimination that could stifle innovation.

When Facebook was created, Mark Zuckerberg didn't have to go to multiple ISPs and ask them if they could carry his website on their network. Instead, he just needed to build the website, upload it to the internet and it was accessible to anyone in the world.

Zuckerberg didn't need to pay ISPs extra money for allowing users to access his site at high volumes. If he did, the cost of that would have stunted the growth of his company and Facebook would not be where it is today.

The same example could be extended to Steemit. If @dan and @ned created this community without Net Neutrality in place, Steemit would have potentially been stunted in growth or even inaccessible if blocked by ISPs. Facebook or other successful social media sites could easily pay ISPs for priority.

So what can we do to prevent this?

Yesterday July 12 was the internet-wide day of action to save Net Neutrality, but it doesn't have to end there. Many big tech companies such as Google and Facebook have already joined the protest and it's not too late!

See more here: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/google-facebook-join-net-neutrality-day-protest-fcc-s-proposed-n781716.

Join the Protest: https://www.battleforthenet.com/july12/

Submit a Comment to the FCC (click "+ Express"): https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/proceedings?q=name:((17-108))
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Please RESTEEM to spread the word!

Cheers,
@brianjuice

Image Sources: 1, 2, 3