Myths of Net Neutrality

Myth #1: Net neutrality is ‘Obamacare for the Internet’

When Senator Ted Cruz tweeted “’Net Neutrality’ is Obamacare for the Internet; the Internet should not operate at the speed of the government,” he invoked a spectacle – similar to the splitting of the Red Sea – between himself and the rest of the world. As PcWorld points out, the difference between Obamacare and Net Neutrality is accessibility and quality, respectively. The philosophy behind Obamacare is to provide basic health care system for all Americans. On the other hand, Net Neutrality leaves accessibility stagnant while oscillating the quality based on money.

Myth #2: An 'open' and 'neutral' Internet are the same thing

In a fight between three individuals, an “opened” fight means anyone can watch the quarrels between the two foes. “Neutral” means the third one will declare a winner without assisting one or the other. Similarly, the Internet has always been “opened” for anyone with access. Even at McDonalds, “free Wi-Fi” was made so that anyone can check their emails. Now, the “neutral” aspect was only a term coined by Columbia law professor Tim Wu to express his belief that Internet traffic must indiscriminately flow regardless of its origin or content.

Myth #3: Regulating ISPs is good (or bad) for users

Although some may consider stricter ISP regulation will be beneficial for Web entrepreneurs, others consider that it will only hinder the investment into the improvement of network infrastructure across the United States. As AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson remarked, his company will “pause” the improvement of its’ fiber network until the decision to the Net Neutrality was made.

Myth #4: Without net neutrality, some Internet users will experience slower service

There is a bit of logic in this myth: if a network rarely transmits heavy traffic, then there exists no reason for potentially fast traffic. Instead, pay the minimum for the basic services – and extra for “fast” services. However, there is a loose interpretation of the word “fast.” Will the ISPs consider currently default speed to be “slow” and create “faster” reservations for higher throughput of data? Or will it consider the default speed to be “fast” and throttle down the others? For this reason, the Internet is uncertain.

Myth #5: President Obama has the final word on net neutrality

As with almost everything in democracy, one’s word has a heavier weight than the others – but it’s not final. Likewise, President Obama’s opinions hold denser influence than the others, but it cannot be obligatory. President Obama expressed his belief that the final decision of the Net Neutrality resides in the hands of the “independent” FCC.