What is Net Neutrality Again?

[Commentary] Network neutrality is going to be back in the news. That’s because an oral argument about the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Open Internet rules will soon take place before the DC Circuit Court.

Simply put, network neutrality is the principle that the company that connects you to the Internet does not get to control what you do on the Internet. The entire idea flows from the recognition that the company that is connecting you to the Internet (your Internet Service Provider or ISP), controls your connection to the Internet. As a result, your ISP is in a position to influence what you do with your internet connection. They could decide to prevent you from visiting some sites, or make some services work poorly, or even redirect you from one site to a competing site. Network neutrality rules prevent this from happening. The rules make it clear that the company that connects you to the Internet has an obligation to connect you to whatever part of the Internet you desire. It is not the company’s role to nudge you in one direction, or to give preferential treatment to some services and sites over others.