Net Neutrality for Dummies: Will the FCC control the Internet?

Al Gore says that legislation ensuring "net neutrality" is "needed for the revitalization of American democracy." Techno-vegan Moby says without it, the "egalitarian" Internet would disappear. Even Mallory from Family Ties, Justine Bateman, thinks "the freedom to access the site of any organization from Planned Parenthood to the Christian Coalition is going to end." But just what the hell is net neutrality—and is all that is good and holy about the Internet really imperiled if legislation guaranteeing it isn't passed? Network neutrality is necessary, say its supporters, to make certain that all data on the Internet is treated equally and to protect users from information discrimination on the part of Internet service providers who will slow down or even block access to certain sites. Reason.tv's Michael C. Moynihan takes a skeptical look at the growing push for net neutrality legislation and asks Peter Suderman, a Reason associate editor who is closely following proposals on the topic, why Moby and Mallory want the Federal Communication Commission, of all agencies, to regulate the Internet. Approximately 4 minutes. Written by Moynihan. Shot and edited by Dan Hayes and Meredith Bragg.

Channel: News & Politics
Uploaded: November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am
Author: ReasonTV

Length: 04:28
Rating: 4.5107913
Views: 24511

Tags: net neutrality  al gore  justine bateman  moby  comcast  att  time-warner  ISP  eddie vedder  internet  peter suderman  michael c. moynihan  dan hayes  meredith bragg  reason.tv  reason.com  reason.org  reason magazine  reason foundation  

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