Internet: The Next Cable?

Congress passed on establishing net neutrality last Thursday. While those-in-the-know, mainly internet users and techies, pushed for net neutrality awareness and sent massive emails, letter, and made phone calls to senators nationwide the outcome remains.

Some think big shots like Google and Microsoft woke to the issues too late.

The fight's not yet over.

The reintroduction of guaranteed net neutrality may come forth in the Senate. The Senate begins meetings next week. Grassroots organizations and those following the movement hope to see net neutrality become a part of the Senate's own telecom bills.

So what's the big deal? If you haven't been following the recent events founder of savetheinternet.com coalition, Robert McChesney, used a metaphor we all know too well. (Full story here.)

If we lose Net neutrality, we lose the most promising method for regular people to access and provide diverse and independent news, information and entertainment. We will see the internet become like cable TV: a handful of massive companies will decide what you can see and how much it will cost. Gone will be the entrepreneurship and innovation that has made the internet the most important cultural and economic engine of our times.

How many people with cable actually like how cable companies have handled all the power entrusted to them? Phone companies are another telecom monster. If the internet becomes regulated by corporations we may need to seek another form of free speech as the internet will no longer warrant us little guys the space -- for less than an apendage and our first born, which I'm not willing to give up and you're probably not either.

If the internet breaks down due to overregulation (read: rising costs and strict specifications of publication) only large corporations with the money to spend will be able to utilize the internet as originially intended.

The internet will no longer be a level field where local brick and mortars have the same oppurtunity (in theory) as, say, WalMart to market themselves in front of target audiences.

Blogs will be out. Like keeping up with Matt Cutts? Ok, so he's probably not going to effected as Google is one of those companies that could pay to keep him in front of you. That is, if Google wasn't regulating things itself by that point. But those associated with smaller companies than Google might slip, regardless of relevancy, popularity, or advertising.

The SEO world will take a turn again. But this time not for the better of all. While we currently focus on getting our customers in front of the eyes searching for them it may become impossible if the "toll booths" erected across the net are too costly to cross. Another type of SEO will morph, certainly, but how free will the speech be then?

Now most anyone will a little browsing knowledge can have a web site -- there are programs and sites to help. Those will a little more knowledge on coding can even create a prettier site. Understanding search engines and how they work allows some to actually be found organically, while paid advertsing is easier for others. To truly show up, rank well, and see positive ROI consistantly it usually takes a little more than having "some" knowledge about the internet and computer world, but people, plain ordinary people, have a chance.

I beg you, stay on this. If the Senate does reintroduce net neutrality take a few seconds to send an email to your representatives. 15-30 seconds and an email will be better than sitting back wondering what the %$#* happened in the next few years.