Is Net Neutrality Important to Your Business?
I'll be part of a group meeting with Senator Susan Collins on Thursday to talk about Net Neutrality and how we need the government to reinstate this basic premise of the Internet.
This has become a highly divisive issue recently, with the telcoms and cable providers on one side (Verizon, TimeWarner,) saying they need the ability to create a tiered Internet where businesses could pay more to get their content delivered faster.
On the other side are content providers (Google, Amazon,) and groups like Common Cause that feel it's important to keep the Internet as a level playing field.
I find myself firmly on the side of net neutrality's defenders. Although I understand that giant video files are beginning to clog network pipes, allowing a tiered system for the Internet goes against some of the basic premises of the Internet and harms small businesses in the process.
What is Net Neutrality?
Net Neutrality is the idea that all content sent over the Internet (in this case) should be treated equally.
Why is Net Neutrality important to small businesses?
The Internet has been an amazing tool for small businesses, and I'm not talking about Silicon Valley startups that sell out to Google or Yahoo for a billion dollars.
Small businesses, many based here in Maine, have the same opportunity of reaching prospects and clients as giant companies do, if they know how to leverage their Web site and Internet marketing.
What the telcom's would like to do is offer tiered service: businesses could pay to become partners of Verizon or AT&T and have their content get preferential treatment. Their content would be delivered faster than that of their rivals. Consumers wouldn't really know why a competitor's site was taking for ever to download, but they wouldn't care. They'd just move on to another site.
Every day I do searches at Google. If a site on the results page takes more than a few seconds to come up, I often choose the next result. I'm guessing you've done that a few times yourself.
Well, imagine if the reason why that site is taking so long to download is because they couldn't afford or refused to pay an additional fee to the telcoms? They may have a better product, or a better service, but they've been boxed out by the duopoly that is held by the telcoms and cable providers.
Although many opponents of Net Neutrality claim that we don't need any more government regulation, it was actually recent regulation that CHANGED the laws.
Net neutrality is critical to Maine businesses. We need to keep the playing field level so that businesses can succeed or fail based on the quality of their products and services.
We live in an incredibly exciting time right now, with the Internet as a major disruptor of the way things used to be. Eliminating Net Neutrality will have a negative impact on businesses, freedom of expression and marketplace competition.
Examples of how a lack of Net Neutrality have stymied businesses outside of America are on display in this article from Inc. magazine called One Internet, Indivisible.
If you'd like to learn more about Net Neutrality be sure to check out Maine Internet Freedom's blog.
Comments
Good article, Rich. Understanding what net neutrality is and understanding what it means - to a small busienss person - is important. I hope you pop in an entry with a recap from your meeting tomorrow.
Posted by LynnelleOctober 11, 2006 06:10 PM
Rich Brook’s recent article “Internet Marketing 101,” (10/11) discussing “net neutrality” highlights only half the story.
The Advanced Telecommunications and Opportunity Reform Act of 2006 (S. 2686) is about more than “net neutrality.” This bill would fix today’s outdated laws that go all the way back to the 1960’s by breaking up one of the last monopolies left in this country – cable television – and bring benefits to consumers, businesses and local communities.
How it would work is really very simple. Consumers win when businesses compete. Increased competition means consumers will see almost immediate cost savings and improved customer service. And, with the introduction of new competitors, comes increased options and control over cable programming, high speed internet and costs.
The video choice bill comes down to increased cost savings, competition, choice, and control. This legislation is a clear ‘win’ for consumers; on that point I refuse to be neutral.
Kelley Gannon
TV4US Spokesperson
TV4US is a non-profit organization representing consumers across the country.
October 12, 2006 01:44 PM
Kelley: how can businesses compete when one company (say, Verizon or Time Warner) can determine how fast the two competing video sources will download? Would football be fair or competitive if the Jets were allowed to use their special teams as referees? That's the "competition" that you're promoting.
You're right...in that the act is about more than net neutrality...however, that's what we're talking about here. We're talking only about net neutrality.
You're also right: consumers win when businesses compete. However, getting rid of net neutrality hurts competition as new, small businesses won't be able to compete on a level playing field.
Businesses should be able to succeed or fail based on their products, services and ideas, not by their ability to pay the equivalent of tariffs to the very companies they compete with.
Net neutrality is good for competition, it's good for small business, and since 95% of the businesses in Maine have less than 50 employees, Net Neutrality is good for Maine and the Maine economy.
Posted by Rich BrooksOctober 12, 2006 04:56 PM
this debate is also taking cause in africa and as an IT anaylst i think doing away with net neutrality is killing the small businesses completely?
Telecom companies do not care what individuals say they can do whatever they want since if it were not for them internet would be no where to be seen. Thus theas a nid for the govt to step in and say u guys u cannot provide more bandwidth.
if it is not regulated tere will not be competition and small businesses will really feel the pinch?
October 18, 2006 12:49 PM
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