Tuesday, May 06, 2014
CGP Grey Explains Net Neutrality
As it is now, I pay $45 a month for internet access that my cable company advertises for $15. Why? Because if I took the cheaper deal, I wouldn’t be able to screen dozen of videos every day to judge which are the best to post to Neatorama and here. If the concept of net neutrality were done away with, you might not even be able to access Miss Cellania, because I'm not a large media corporation able to grease the provider’s palms (this blog would just die). And if I was a large corporation, you’d probably have to pay to cover those expenses.
In this video, CGP Grey compares the internet to utilities and roads, and what would happen if they were treated the way some providers want to refashion the internet. The U.S. already has slower broadband than most of the rest of the developed world, at higher prices. It could get worse if we don’t speak out now. (via Viral Viral Videos)
I've always felt another analogy is better.
ReplyDeleteImagine if there was no phone neutrality. You are at home and you want a pizza delivered. You call your locally owned pizza shop. But the call doesn't go through. After many tries, it finally rings, but the static on the line makes it impossible to hear the other person.
After many tries, you give up and call Dominos. The call to Domino's goes through instantly and is clear.
Later, you find out that your phone number owns 50% of Dominos. So they have a financial interest in making sure that calls to THEIR company go through, and that calls their competitors are terrible.
Would you be outraged? I would hope so. This is exactly what loosing net neutrality will be like. But instead of phone calls, it will be websites or web services.
That is a good analogy! I may have to use it when the need arises.
ReplyDelete