So why do we give a damn about who controls the internet? Why are we so passionate about how our traffic is filtered and viewed? This is another technical rant that you guys will totally relate too, especially Comcast and Virgin customers. I will apologize in advance if you like your torrents and games running slow and lagged but I know I sure don't!...heh.

Because the internet was founded with the principle of access to data and neutrality. All packets should have the same priority as each other, regardless if they are Bit Torrent, HTML, VoIP or SSL. Don't you guys agree?

But, ISPs around the world, namely ComCast and Virgin don't agree with that. They filter, and packet shape our internet causing BitTorrents to run slow, making our high speed internet connections run slower, and forcing games to lose frags because of higher pings. This is not fair!

In addition, now ISPs and countries are filtering content. Look at China (Great Firewall of China) and Australia who filter what their citizens can view online. Even Google has bowed down to the great China overlord for Google Chinese search. This is again not fair! How in this day and age of technology and freedom can we restrict what we are allowed to view. What gives them the right to control our access to the internet? When we buy internet service, we expect to get 100% of the internet not 60% or 70% which our "government" deems acceptable.

When I first signed up for my cable modem there was only internet, no packet filters, speed caps, bandwidth caps, etc. Now, I am caped at 100 gig/month of transfer up and down. Sure my download speed is great but my upload is only 1Mbps. Ive noticed my pings go up instead of down, and I have been warned on countless occasions about going over my cap... It seems times have changed and not for the better.

The good news is in Canada the government hasn't tried to meddle with our internet as of yet, but I'm sure that it will sometime down the road. Though I hope that day never comes!

What do you the reader think of Net Neutrality? Or your ISP?

~More on Keeping the net neutral.

About the Author

Sean Habing is a web developer, project manager and general IT geek (B. Sc. Comp Sci, A+ Certified, Business Analyst Certificate). Sean currently works as a Client Support Analyst for a Canadian software company. He also runs his own company Oncall Software. It is his goal to inform people about technology while providing industry insight into common issues and problems. He also likes muscle cars. 

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