Net Neutrality and the Free Market

Does anyone have the right to filter Internet content?  If so, who?

The issue of net neutrality has found its way out of the spotlight for the past few months, but it will remain a topic of debate as long as there is an Internet.  “Net neutrality” is a term that means no restrictions on the Internet.  This means that no ISP (Internet Service Provider) or Government can restrict users’ access to the Internet.  Typically, ISPs are in favor of Internet restrictions as they can profit from charging users for access to specific types of sites.  Imagine if the Internet were treated like cable TV where users had to pay for access to “channels”.  Companies like Verizon were profit tremendously, but does these restrictions constitute as censorship?

If the Internet is anything like America, it will start out perfectly free and slowly progress towards an environment where you can’t walk out your front door without having to mind three million rules and getting charged fees for existing.  This is why the Internet MUST remain out of the government’s control.  Small government equals freedom.

As for ISPs, it would be highly inconvenient and much more expensive for ISPs to have free reign over the Internet, but it still boils down to a matter of principle.  It goes without question that the government has no right to censor the Internet, but should companies like Verizon have this right?  As a believer in the free market, I think Verizon should be able to do as they please so long as they aren’t in volition of any competition or anti-trust laws.  If there is no foul conduct in the market, Verizon can charge for restricted Internet access and consumers will simply opt against their service and put them out of business.

However, I’m not foolish.  I don’t pretend to believe that Verizon and other ISPs are playing fair.  In this market there are enormous barriers to entry and economies of scale.  In a single area there are typically only one or two options for Internet.  Residents of large cities may have more options, but the average consumer does not. I believe the ideal solution is for the government to encourage this market to enter a state of perfect competition instead of the oligopoly (and often monopoly) that it is.  Then we won’t have to raise questions of net neutrality because ISPs will be competing for business rather than thinking of new ways to squeeze money out of their customers.