Shifting Out of Neutral

"Net Neutrality" is a complex legal, philosophical, technological and economic issue that a some people (including a very smart JPL engineer friend of Your Humble Blogger) are deeply interested in. In brief, Net Neutrality is the idea that internet service providers (ISPs) must offer equal access to web sites. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) would have the job of enforcing net neutrality. The counterargument is that ISPs have the right to restrict internet access as they see fit. A recent federal appeals court decision ruled in favor of the ISPs and against the FCC. National Public Radio reports.

Questions...

•Was the FCC regulating for the public good, or was it wrongly inhibiting the free market?

•Phone companies are common carriers, meaning they must allow equal access to all phone numbers. Should the ISPs be treated the same way?

•How does the federal appeals court decision affect freedom of information in the U.S.?

•What does this decision mean for streamed entertainment?

•What are the arguments against net neutrality?