Net Neutrality for Dummies

Alright I have been hearing a lot about net neutrality lately. I’m sure many of you are asking yourself what is Net neutrality and why should I care. I have done a bit of research to try and figure out what all the commotion is about. I started at Save the Internet and went from there. I really was not overly concerned about the issue until recently when I received the following letter:


We wish to notify you that we have amended the Bell SympaticoTM Internet Service Agreements.

These new agreements become effective June 1, 2006. For a summary of changes to your Service Agreement, please click on the corresponding link below:

Sympatico DSL Internet service customers
Sympatico Dial-up Internet service customers
If you do not wish to continue receiving your Internet service under the new Service Agreement, you can terminate your service before June 1, 2006, by contacting Sympatico Member Services at 310-SURF(7873).
Since most current customers will not be inconvenienced by these changes, we are confident that you will choose to continue to enjoy your Internet service as you have in the past.
We hope that you are completely satisfied with your Internet experience and continue to be a valuable member of the Sympatico family.
Sincerely,

Sympatico Member Services



It’s an innocently enough looking letter until you start looking deeper. Its true intent starts to become evident. The Globe & Mail has a very interesting article about this issue. To sum it up basically Sympatico is taking preemptive measures to prepare for expected government legislation about net neutrality. I found this really great video on YouTube that explains what net neutrality is and means to all of us.


Jon Stewart interviewed the man responsible for overseeing the internet in the US and we should all be very afraid.