Net Neutrality

The principal issue of net neutrality is based on the regulation of telecommunication services. Policies are established to promote and preserve the stability of the industry, to increase the public interest and to provide satisfaction to the consumers. However, there are two sides to this debate. On one side of the debate the public interests and consumer activists want to protect net neutrality, meanwhile businesses believe that competition in markets will cause self-regulation and lead to better services for customers.

However, there are infringements upon net neutrality. The Canadian Telecommunications Act states that “Except where the Commission approves otherwise, a Canadian carrier shall not control the content or influence the meaning or purpose of telecommunications carried by it for the public.” Unfortunately, the act isn’t always upheld, which leads to cases of non-neutrality. For instance, when Telus blocked the server of a pro-union site their actions caused an additional blockage of 766 unrelated sites for subscribers. In another case, HostonFiber (an ISP offering web hosting services) evicted a client’s online website that featured a gothic subculture magazine. The website actually ended up being removed from the servers.

I believe that our access to information on the net is vital to our freedom of expression. Industries should not be regulating our information, or taking control over what we choose to view. Individual preference is important and it should be preserved. This aspect has made the internet a successful tool and as individuals we have the right to choose what we want to participate in.

"What is Net Neutrality?" 24 Nov. 2008 < http://whatisnetneutrality.ca/ >.