November 15, 2006
Sun op-ed: Keep the Net free
“Keep the Net a free market,” op-ed, by Brad Ashwell, Gainesville Sun, Nov. 13, 2006.
The genius of the Internet, and the catalyst of economic growth, democratic discourse, and social opportunity it has become, is based on a foundation of nondiscrimination. The Internet market has worked beautifully because the barriers to entry were low and the status of every actor in the marketplace remained equal. This is a competitive market at its finest, but it is premised on that neutral platform. Remove the neutral footing, and the market tips in favor of network owners.
Ashwell is the Democracy and Consumer Advocate for the Florida Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), based in Tallahassee.
