Net neutrality refers to the idea that internet traffic must be treated equally. The idea behind net neutrality is that no internet service provider (ISPs) has the power of favoring one source over another through throttling, blocking, or paid prioritization (Ganley, & Allgrove, 2006). Open internet service assists teams everywhere, from the doctors in the developing countries to communities that require important medical information for patient treatment. The lack of a leveled playing field means most people will have access to opportunity and knowledge while others will not. This is not particularly fair. Net neutrality is an important element in assisting everyone plays as a team.

Net Neutrality in the United States

In the United States of America, net neutrality where ISP provides are required to treat all information on the internet the same, has been an issue of contention between the access providers and network users. The main issue is the way Internet Service providers should be grouped in the 1934 Communications Act. The issues of classification are whether the internet providers should be Title two of the common carrier services or Title One of the information services. These classifications impact the Federal Communications Commission’s FCC) power over the internet service providers. The FCC will have significant power of regulating ISPs when classified under Title Two Common carriers. However, they will have reduced control when these ISPs are grouped under Title One. In 2005, FCC used the principles of network neutrality that focused on the preservation and promotion of the open and vibrant character of the internet with the telecommunications entering the marketplace. The net neutrality in the United Kingdom and India compare varies significantly to the policies used in the United States of America. This graph shows net neutrality in the U.S.

Net Neutrality in India

On 8^th February 2016, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRA) prohibited different pricing methods of data services. According to the press release of the TRA, the regulators were given many responses that considered the opinions in line with the consultation paper. From these responses, the regulator decided on having a regulation instead of a case study of tariff investigation. The decision by the TRA was giving the participants in the industry the much-required certainty. The ruling prohibited any provider of services from charging or offering discriminatory tariffs for the data services on content (Prasad, 2018). The ruling also prohibited any contract or agreement that could have an impact of discriminatory tariffs for the data services or help the service provider in ways of evading regulation. It also specified financial disincentives that contravened the regulations. The Indian government agreed to new regulations that supported net neutrality. These regulations are the strongest rules on net neutrality because they guarantee open and free internet for almost five hundred million citizens. The rules are also expected to help with the culture of innovation and startups. The figure below shows the net neutrality in India.

Net Neutrality in the United Kingdom

Compared to the United States, the debate about net neutrality is one that is not hugely considered in the United Kingdom. The officials believe this concept links to the open internet idea because neutrality is only used in American politics. While it is almost a non-issue in the United Kingdom, there is a defining trait in the debate on neutrality since the arguments are defined by the regulators. These arguments are also influenced by the discourse of other European countries. Many discussions in the United Kingdom are focused on the open internet. In 2007, Plusnet was integral in the deep packet inspection for the implementation of limits and differential charges for file transfer protocol, online game traffic, and peer-to-peer (Powell, & Cooper, 2011). Still, the philosophy on network management was clear for every package sold and was constant for the different websites.

Net Neutrality in China

The approach of the People Republic of China does not consider Net Neutrality because the government utilizes ISPs in inspecting and regulating the content that is made available to the citizens. The government blocks both domestic and foreign sites that they wish to censor within their country, using hardware and software that is referred to as the “Great Firewall.” Most of these sites are listed in the blacklist of the firewall because they offer data that the government cannot permanently and effectively change. Since the nation was established in 1949, there has been great effort aimed at the manipulation of data flow and preventing the distribution of perceptions that are critical of the government or deviate from the official party view of the Communist party. After internet technology was introduced in the mid-1990s, there were major challenges for the government to exert control over news sources and public opinion. While there has been rapid development of the internet, increased access to news and improved mass communication in the country, most forms of mass media and online access are stifled. China has one of the most complex regimes that filter the internet globally. The Chinese government uses difficult methods for the limitation of online content.

Other countries approach the topic so different from us, so learning and researching. I see that the ideal outcome for net neutrality is giving fair access to everyone because the internet is a basic human right. The internet has become a basic right for everyone, from having to work with it and having to deal with school too. So repealing net neutrality will become a big problem, for everyone in the United States. Talking to our congressmen can always help and having faster internet can be so much better too.