Net Neutrality

Net Neutrality is most likely a new term or concept to most people. The best way I can describe what the concept of net neutrality is is comparing Verizon TV and Internet services to Verizon's telecommunication services. When people buy a cell phone plan through Verizon they either pay full price for an unlimited data plan for their phone or they get a certain amount of data that they can use per month that is priced in tiers according to the amount of data in the plan. When people buy TV and Internet services through Verizon for their homes they pay a flat fee.  The problem arises when the difference in pricing is noted and Verizon realizes how much more income they could net if they priced both phone and home data plans in the same tier system.  Clearly Verizon would probably generate more income if they did charge home TV and Internet customers in the same manner as they do with their cell phone customers. However, it is also clear that a line needs to be drawn because Verizon could hinder the sales revenue of companies like Netflix, Hulu, and Youtube if they do charge TV and Internet customers for the amount of bandwidth they use.  Thus, the term Net Neutrality is born.  Net Neutrality is a set of rules that the FCC adopted that ensures that ISP's cannot charge per bandwidth.  This will prove to be an interesting topic as years progress and ISP's will need to consider new business strategies as research suggests: "Congressional leaders are on record to overturn the rules. Some broadband pipe owners are already making lawsuit rumbles. Net neutrality will be in the courts and in Congress; the outcome is certain to affect broadcast revenue streams. Broadcasters need to follow the net neutrality happenings, understand the issues and strategize accordingly"(Net neutrality, 2011).

(http://www.wired.com/2011/01/verizon-sues-fcc/)

Net neutrality. (2011, February 1). Broadcast Engineering, 53(2). Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA249652321&v=2.1&u=lincclin_spjc&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=94b8ce133e6efd6f86009553fa815cb9