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A friend comments in an email exchange that he/she doesn’t understand what all t

ID: 3849863 • Letter: A

Question

A friend comments in an email exchange that he/she doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about Net Neutrality. He/She wonders if you, as a CS expert can explain the issue. For this option, draft a 300-500 word explanation of the issue of net neutrality. You may wish to emphasise a particular side, or not, but will want to convey to your friend why the issue is important. You can include links to more information on the web, but you should also remember that this is an email- your friend will read it like an email, not like a research paper.

Explanation / Answer

Net Neutrality is the basic principle that prohibits internet service providers like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon from speeding up, slowing down or blocking any content, applications or websites you want to use.

If Net Neutrality has not existed, then we may get some questions in your mind. Like, how would activists be able to fight against oppression?

What would happen to social movements like the Movement for Black Lives? How would the next disruptive technology, business or company emerge if internet service providers only let incumbents succeed?

If Net Neutrality does not exist or failed then what does the Companies like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon decide to do? Simply They’d be able to block websites or content they don’t like or applications that compete with their own offerings.

And how does Net Neutrality is crucial plays an important role for small business owners, startups and entrepreneurs, who rely on the open Internet to launch their businesses, create markets, advertise their products and services, and reach customers? We need the open internet to foster job growth, competition, and innovation.

But the opponents have done everything they can to destroy Net Neutrality. In Trump Government, the Chairman Pai — a former Verizon lawyer — is moving fast to destroy the open internet. But Millions have already taken a stand to defend our rights to connect and communicate.