Net Neutrality (or Back to the Future)

[SOURCE: Center for American Progress, AUTHOR: Mark Lloyd]
[Commentary] For roughly ten years Lawrence Lessig has been warning us of the inevitable problems when telecommunications companies are not prevented from introducing "code" that limits what people can send or receive through the Internet. The challenge created by what Lessig called the architecture of control is no longer merely potential, nor is it a mere bellicose threat. But wasn't the Internet supposed to be the answer to the limits of broadcasting and cable? Wasn't the Internet supposed to be inherently democratic? Wasn't the future supposed to be open and free and full of choice? Are we not all better off if even the poorest child has full access to the educational adventures made possible by fast broadband access to NASA or the Smithsonian? Are we not all better off if even the poorest grandmother has access to telemedicine services made possible by fast broadband access? Are we not all better off if our emergency workers can connect to terminals in private homes and have fast access to information that would make their jobs easier and our lives a little safer? Net Neutrality should be a given. We need competitive, fast, redundant broadband service for all Americans. Isn't that the future?
http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=1432287

More commentary --
* The Double Definitions of ‘Network Neutrality’
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=18540