Net Neutrality

The recently announced National Broadband Plan (NBP) is set to tackle the US digital divide head on.

This divide, once more a fissure of ignorance than access, is now--as the "secret" of broadband access has reached all corners of our nation, and as the need to be connected in many cases are seen as not only a nicety, but future survival--fast becoming one of access only.

I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that the populace as a whole now knows that broadband access is necessary, but discriminating telecom and cable interests have, so far, priced or mapped many communities and potential users out of the market.

Today, if you are not online, in many respects, you are not part of the "current" US population, rather, a walking relic.

The National Broadband Plan, and its intent to protect the rights of online consumers online, takes a large step toward finally bridging the divide.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski confirmed that Net Neutrality--the reverse of the digital divide coin--will in fact serve the unrepresented portion of the country.

In response to a question about whether NBP would address left-out communities and users, he replied:

"Net neutrality is essential for opportunity in all communities, including minority communities.

"If you have an idea for a business or a programming venture, getting on the major getting on the major, traditional communications media landscapes is very difficult.

"We need to figure out ways to open that up, but the opportunities of the future are going to be for someone who has an idea for a business or an idea for a programming venture to be able to get online, to reach an audience, and to build a successful business, whether it's a business or a programming entity.

"So, net neutrality is designed to ensure that everyone, regardless of what community you're from, regardless of your background; that you have an opportunity to get your ideas, your business, your programming, out on the Internet, reach an audience, having it stand or fall on its own merit, without having to deal with roadblocks that are making traditional medial really hard.

"We need to tackle those roadblocks, but we definitely need to keep the Internet free and open, for entrepreneurs and programmers and people with ideas and speakers from every background and community."

Nice words. Let's hope that he--and the FCC--has the digital muscle to follow through.