One of the topics discussed during this portion of lab was the Internet Slowdown, which was a movement initiated by numerous companies on Sept 10, 2014 to show its consumers what the Internet could look like if carriers were permitted to abandon net neutrality. These were primarily companies which would be affected by the Federal Communications Commission’s proposal for companies to pay for, among other things, priority speed.
Consumers may initially wonder why this issue should matter to them. As discussed in this article by Tim Worstall, an internet network regulated by cost can be explained by using the highway traffic network as a metaphor. Different rules and restrictions apply to different modes of transportation, and they are in place to promote safety, speed, and efficiency. However, an ambulance, for example must be able "to break pretty much all of the speed and rights of way rules that everyone else might have to obey..."
This system is accepted because people recognize the speed with which emergency medical care must be administered. It does come at a high cost, though; depending on the situation, a ride on an ambulance can cost the patient several hundred dollars. This, too, is an accepted part of the system as the cost for the impact that it has imposed upon the rest of the network.
Given this comparison, it would appear as though the only reason companies are speaking out against abandoning net neutrality is its effect on the bottom line. Self-serving causes hardly ever earn any sympathy from netizens though, so what's the difference here? The obvious issue is that costs are always passed onto consumers, whether it be in the form of higher costs or lower quality products, which people do care about.
Another issue which is more obscure but just as important, is that smaller companies with similar services simply might not be able to compete and afford those costs. In terms of costs, net neutrality would then seem to actually benefit big name companies since there'd be less competition in the market. However, there is a need for these smaller companies on the basis that competition drives innovations which work to create products and services that were previously unavailable, especially to groups with limited resources.
For example, consider the Media Richness Theory within the context of one of my other classes. The theory states that media richness, or the degree to which components of communication such as synchronicity and nonverbals are present in a message, should be matched to the task. This means that if a task is complex, then it requires richer media or the presence of more of these components. Media that has fewer of these components is described as lean. In this class, we explored conflict by speaking, in real time via video chat, with individuals around the world who live in controversial areas, including post-apartheid South Africa and the active Israeli-Palestinian conflict zone.
While email, a relatively lean media that works universally around the world, was appropriate for scheduling these discussions, it was difficult for instructors to find a usable platform for the actual discussion. In a world with Google Hangouts, Skype, and FaceTime, that probably seems odd. However, some of the people we spoke with live in countries where these applications are not available, whether it be from lack of infrastructure or because there may be a ban. Even with the services the behemoth companies were able to offer, there was still a gap in the market which would have prevented this learning experience. That is when the class instructors were introduced to Blue Jeans, which allows people to video conference even if they're not using the same platform. The company was founded in 2009, so this class was literally not possible five years ago.
Some people may argue that this communication could have been done with chat or forum discussion, but it was important to our instructors that we see and hear our counterparts when we talk about heavy and complex topics, like how war is affecting them on a personal level. Because the specific needs of a small population like this class are not necessarily always met by the large household-name corporations that we are familiar with, net neutrality is needed in order to not hinder small companies like Blue Jeans.
No comments:
Post a Comment