The following is a list of websites, essays, and articles which should help anyone with understanding more fully the urgency and relevance of Net Neutrality.
Wright, Corie. "The Comcast-NBC Merger: Why the FCC Should Be Held to a Higher Standard"
Save The Internet. January 24, 2011. Web. 1 Feb 2011.
Blogger Corie Wright puts the possibilities of the Comcast-NBC merger, one of the largest corporate mergers in US history, into perspective for the average reader by analyzing the decisions made by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to approve the merger. The article assumes the asserting that the FCC failed to serve the public in allowing the merger to take place and has since, after a shuffling of leadership, been working to lessen the severity of their mistake.
Karr, Tim. "Verizon Loves Net Neutrality to Death" Save the Internet. January 21, 2011 Web.
1 Feb 2011.
Author Tim Karr's article on Verizon's role in regard to Net Neutrality asserts that the telecommunications giant simultaneously purports to support the efforts of Net Neutrality while all the while pushing to overturn FCC regulations. Karr's article highlights the importance of skepticism when dealing with such a sensitive topic of debate.
Genachowski, Julius. "Statement on Preserving Internet Freedom and Openness" Prepared Remarks.
December 21, 2010. Web. 1 Feb 2011.
In his speech at an FCC meeting, Chairman Genachowski outlines to his staff the current state of the "open Internet" and what, in the future, they will be doing about it. Highlighting the need for federal intervention
while noting the dangers of excessive regulation, Genachowski stresses the importance of poise and delicacy called for by this debate. Genachowski sets forth six "rules for the road" which will serve as general guidelines for the FCC committee.
Sridhar, Aparna. "The Truth About the Third Way" Free Press. June 2010. Web. 1 Feb 2011.
Aparna's arcticle on "the third way" is primarily intended to inform the uninitiated on the debate over the FCC's proposed "third way" of securing an open internet by reclassifying broadband communication. The article explains the effects of corporate dealings with the Bush administration which reclassified broadband service as an "information" service rather than a "communications" service. The article effectively dispells various myths surrounding the oft misinterpreted "third way".
Whitt, Richard. "Facts About our Network Neutrality Policy Proposal" Google Public Policy Blog,
August 12 2010. Web. Feb 15 2011.
Intended to dispel confusion and misinformation regarding their public policy proposal, author Richard Whitt lists a series of widely based myths and offers elaborations for them. Google attempts to justify their choices and maintain the loyalty of their fan base, but seem to have a difficult time while their concern for supporters fall somewhere between weak facts and bureaucracy.
"Network Neutrality" Free Press, Web. Feb 18 2011.
Free Press' article brings a refreshing degree of bias to the Net Neutrality debate. The article is intended for those seeking information, but want a more frank and informal pro-neutrality spin on the issue. The prime directive of Free Press is to revive the news industry and reinvigorate the general press, so, naturally, they recognize the danger posed by the corporate bodies and fully support Net Neutrality. The article also links to a great deal of other information sources readers can follow for further information.
Warman, Matt. "Tim Berners-Lee Defends Net Neutrality" The Telegraph, September 2010. Web.
Feb 18 2011.
Matt Warman's article on the opinions of internet creater Sir Tim Berners-Lee regarding Net Neutrality deepens the subject by addressing the issue of wireless internet, and the attempts of ISPs to seperate the issues of wired and wireless internet. Google feels wireless internet should be left to the providers until it becomes more developed, which Warman juxtaposes with Sir Tim's warning that "the moment you let Net Neutrality go, you lose the web as it is."
Wozniak, Steve. "Steve Wozniak to the FCC: Keep the Internet Free" The Atlantic, December 21
2010. Web. Feb 18 2011.
Co-founder of the industry dominating computer company, Apple, Wozniak has a great deal to say about the importance of Net Neutrality. Wozniak uses examples from his personal history in order to, somewhat unnecessarily, qualify his authority on the matter by putting a particular emphasis on his freedom to innovate. Wozniak aims to inform not only those invested in the Net Neutrality debate, but those invested in the freedom and prosperity of the United States.
Obama, Barack. "Network Neutrality" Podcast, June 8 2006. Web. March 29 2011.
Before his being elected president, Barack Obama took a tough, and promising, stance on Net Neutrality. In his podcast address, he even goes as far as to insist that "cable companies are going to be dedicating millions of dollars to defeat Net Neutrality". Recently, however, President Obama, as well as many other outspoken supporters of Net Neutrality, have all but given up their battles for Net Neutrality.
Ciarlo, Mike. "A Guide To the Open Internet" www.theopeninter.net, Web. March 29 2011.
Mike Ciarlo has put together a somehwat interactive, visual guide to the basics behind the Net Neutrality debate. Ciarlo's site is a fantastic source for anyone unfamiliar with Net Neutrality. If you find yourself in need of a quick clarification of "Net Neutrality" or a simple and effective visual for spreading the word, this is the site to visit.
Parry, Mark. "Tim Wu Tries to Save the Internet" The Chronicle of Higher Education, March 20
2011. Web. March 29 2011.
Mark Parry interviews and profiles Tim Wu, Harvard grad, Columbia Law Professor, and father of the phrase "Net Neutrality". Parry's interview with Wu offers some helpful and valid insight into the Net Neutrality debate. Through the profile, readers skeptical of Net Neutrality's importance will find clarification and simplification in Wu's experienced inferences and personal authority.
Streich, Brendan. "Georgia Tech to Pursue 'Transparent Internet' with $1M Google Focused
Research Award" Georgia Tech College of Computing, March 22 2011. Web. March 29 2011
Given Google's curious, recent decision to join Verizon in combating a recent FCC proposal, their donation of $1 million to Georgia Tech to monitor Net Neutrality is an interesting one. Author Brendan Streich does little to examine why Google chose Georgia Tech so much as he asks what it means for the future. Google's pursuit of an open internet is an interesting entry in their recent list of decisions as they tiptoe away from Verizon's side.
Singel, Ryan. "House Votes to Undo Net Neutrality Rules"Wired, April 8th 2011. Web. April 20
2011.
Wired writer Ryan Singel addresses a very recent event in the world of the Net Neutrality debate. Singel's article gives a fair account of the perspective of House of Representatives Republicans, clarifying that the FCC's December proposal, an almost universally unaccepted move, would amount to an unprecedented level of regulation in the broadband market. It's important to understand how difficult it will be to reach a balance in regulations regarding Net Neutrality. If rules are too weak, telecoms will find loopholes and exploit them, harming customers, but if rules are too strong, telecoms could end up with less motivation and room for innovating and expanding.
McIntyre, Steve. "FCC Delivers Wired Net Neutrality but Not Wireless" Change Conversations.
Web. April 20 2011.
As an elaboration on what could be "too weak" a Net Neutrality bill, read Steve McIntyre's article on why the FCC must take great care in drafting proposals. The article focuses on two major points of the bill, the strict regulations set on wired broadband, and the altogether negligence by the FCC in drafting regulations for, what some call "The Wild West", wireless broadband. The future of Internet communication is wireless, that fact is undeniable when you look at nations like Japan and Korea whose bitrates are more than 10 times the United States.
Franken, Al. "The Internet as We Know it Is Still at Risk" Huffington Post. December 22nd 2011
Web. April 20 2011.
In his article from December, Minnesota Senator Al Franken describes, from his perspective, the faults and weaknesses of the FCC Net Neutrality bill proposed in the month. Franken justifies his dissatisfaction with the bill through concern that the bill fails to do enough to defend the Internet we know today. As one of the primary proponents of Net Neutrality, it is important to keep up with and understand Franken's views
Kincaid, Jason. "Techcrunch Interview: FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski" Techcrunch. April 16th
2011 Web. April 20 2011.
Shortly after speaking at the Computer History Museum, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski sat down for a short interview, covering mostly his proposal from December and the reception it received. Overall, the interview is unenlightening, save for the question asked by Kincaid regarding the supposed impermanence of the December rules. Chairman Genachowski responds with an interesting answer insisting the rules, which were met with an outpouring of criticism, will remain in effect indefinitely.
