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The Gales Network: Focused brand management and business development

17 April 2007

Net Neutrality

Big Ideas Topic: Net Neutrality
The Big Idea behind Net Neutrality is that everyone’s data is worthy of equal treatment by bandwidth providers. Fundamental to the democracy of cyberspace, the notion of web neutrality is essential to the Internet’s continued value as a communication, community-building and commerce engine for the globe.

At Issue: Under some scenarios, individuals or entities with deep pockets would be able to transmit and exchange data at higher speeds and with higher priority than might be treated your email to Aunt Martha, your mom and pop web store sale of custom beer cozies, even how quickly your website loads.

Big Ideas View: The implications for industries and individuals alike are immense. The Web leveled the playing field for product providers of all descriptions and sizes. From titans of industry to mom and pop’s, promotion and marketing via the Internet has become standard operating procedure. More significantly, cyberspace equality has granted market access to small innovative enterprises and enabled them to compete in industries that previously excluded them through scale. Just as infomercials opened markets to purveyors of kitchen knives, pocket fishing poles and miracle cleaners, the Web has launched thousands of viable, valuable businesses and created jobs and revenue for them. Going forward, Net Neutrality may be a key component of the 21st Century American Dream.

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The Big Ideas Report separates the real issues (Big Ideas) from the noise, so that it’s possible to move forward with confidence or simply converse intelligently with others. We identify issues that have a material impact on your business, define them succinctly and suggest a position, so you can get going. Part fact, part opinion, part alchemy, that’s The Big Ideas Report.