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Network Neutrality

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The Internet is an amazing thing. Despite being around for less than fifty years, the Internet has grown unbelievably immense and widespread. It connects people from all over the world, and gives its users access to information on virtually any topic imaginable. This is a huge asset in the development and advancement of humankind. However, having a resource of its magnitude brings great responsibility. Part of the reason the Internet has thrived is its open nature. Anyone can create content and anyone can access that content. Both creators and consumers know that the content they’re making or consuming will being equally as accessible as any other content out there. This concept has come to be known as Network Neutrality. The benefits society …show more content…

Network Neutrality, also known as Net Neutrality, is defined as “the principle that Internet providers (‘broadband providers’) should allow access to all content and applications equally, irrespective of what the source of the content is” (Cano, 2016, p. 1). Net Neutrality works to keep an open Internet, which is characterized by three things. The first characteristic is there are no gatekeepers. This means no one can stop someone else from making something. The second characteristic is “the technology supporting the flow of traffic would be indifferent to the ‘substance, functionality, and content of that traffic’” (Cano, 2016, p. 21). The final characteristic of an open Internet is the network is available to anyone and anyone can contribute to the infrastructure. Net Neutrality cannot be discussed without also mentioning the three terms which describe all parties involved in the Internet: edge providers, end users, and broadband providers. An edge provider is defined as “a person or organization that provides or creates ‘content, services, and applications over the Internet’; this includes providers

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