Alternatively called Internet neutrality and network neutrality, net neutrality is a principle that mandates ISPs and telecommunication companies not tamper with Internet data. Coined by Tim Wu, net neutrality ensures all websites and content get the same service, speed, and quality.

Many people believe removing net neutrality would devastate the Internet, as it would allow big companies to pay major Internet service providers to give them bandwidth priority. In a sense, removing net neutrality would make Internet service providers like AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon the gatekeepers of the Internet. They could sell speed to the highest bidder and cause other websites to load more slowly.

Others argue that this action is needed because the stress on major Internet backbones with the popularity of Internet videos and file sharing like YouTube and Netflix.

Additional resources

  • Save the Internet is a great website containing extensive information about Network neutrality, and methods you can use to petition Congress to help protect it.

Internet, Internet terms, Network terms, QoS