Title: Unit 6: Net Neutrality
Course: Advanced Composition for the Digital Age SP14 > Section: Unit 6: Future of Communication

You may have heard the term, but what is it and what's the controversy?

Net Neutrality

What is Net Neutrality? And why is there such a controversy surrounding it? Good Question? This debate has been going on for a few years now and people are just as divided as ever. There are hundreds of articles and YouTube videos about this issue. (You may ask yourself, If it is so widely written about and debated why haven't I heard of it? That's a good question. Maybe you have some more ideas about that now after the Social Issues & The Media unit. The corporations very well might not to cover stories which would turn public opinion around on an issue that could restrict how they do business.) All the more reason to search for new resources on issues (within the last 3-5 years).

Since you're just learning about the issue, it's worth taking a step back in time.

Let's see what former Republican Senator from the state of Alaska had to say about it, after all, he once served on a committee that was in charge of regulating the internet...

Series_of_Tubes.mp3

06-28-2006

Now you know! (At least you know where the term Series of Tubes comes from.) What might at first sound like the crazy ramblings of someone that has no clue of how the internet works...wait, where am I going with this...Oh yeah, he may have actually had a few points, though they were in-artfully made at best.

There have been plenty of responses to this video over the years and you may have even heard of the internet referred to jokingly as a Series of Tubes.

So let's get to it. What is Net Neutrality? And why should you care? How has this argument evolved or been addressed by Congress over the last few years? See this page for even more detailed questions/answers on Net Neutrality. Since this term was popularized a few years ago, opponents of it will often find new ways to label it. When completing your assignments you'll also want to familiarize yourself with the terms SOPA & PIPA. There's another article worth reading called: The SOPA-PIPA Saga - Freedom of Speech vs. Net Neutrality

This would also be a good time to introduce something called a Mocumentary; these are short films created in a documentary kind of style but are used to make fun of the genre or the ideas presented. Grab some ear buds and take a look at this video on Net Neutrality. Take note of how the filmmakers take the concepts of Net Neutrality and get their point across by mocking the position of the Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Did you notice MN Senator Al Franken in there? He's been a vocal advocate for Net Neutrality. Hopefully after seeing how hard people are working to keep things open you have a better understanding of just how easy it might be to lose if people don't make their voices heard. If you need a more serious analysis of the issue there is a thorough presentation of it here from Moyers on America. It's a little longer (over an hour, but hey, just say you're watching something for class) but well worth the time to really get a handle on the issue. (Warning: this page may require a RealPlayer plug-in which it will prompt you to install if you don't already have one.)

View your Unit 6 Assignment: Net Neutrality

Net Neutrality is a complicated issue. It is easy in this case to see both sides of the argument. It is a fine line between doing what is best for the people and businesses at the same time. When finished, share what you know! Post some of your insights by heading back to the Net Neutrality discussion board.

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