Web Wise

Challenging 'Net Neutrality' Could Affect Independent Shops

We've all heard the Internet referred to as the "information superhighway." The term was coined in the mid-1990s to describe how the Web pages, music files and eventually video of the Internet moves at similar speeds from computer to computer all over the world. But there is an initiative on the minds of major Internet players that would create an "HOV lane" on the superhighway, essentially allowing the content of certain paying Web sites to be streamed faster to computers. The end result could leave small businesses, including many automotive repair facilities, at a disadvantage when delivering Internet content to customers. Some countries such as the United Kingdom, South Korea and Japan have instituted net neutrality as law. The United States, however, has not. And the telecommunications industry wants to take advantage of this fact. AT&T is one carrier that wants larger companies to pay to have their content streamed faster. It's part of their future business model.

So is this fair to the independent shops that are doing their best to keep up with online trends? Telecommunications companies are spending billions of dollars upgrading their networks to handle the next generation of Internet services. This cost will be passed on to someone; and if it's not passed along to the large companies who are using the Internet's current bandwidth, then the consumer is going to have to pay.

Broadband providers have promised that the speed of a given Web site will never be blocked or compromised. Bottom line, prioritizing content will simply mean certain sites will travel faster than others.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held a hearing on net neutrality in February. It appears that committee members are split among party lines. Democrats predict that if the Internet implements an "express lane," sites without a lot of money will be left behind. Republicans, on the other hand, believe that the nation's communication networks deserve to make money off the upgrade of their Internet networks.

The question of net neutrality will continue to be debated as the U.S. Congress rewrites the nation's telecommunication laws.

ASA Web Ways

New Initiative, KEYS, Has Web Site The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is proud to introduce KEYS (Keep Educating Yourself and Staff), a new education and training initiative. To keep up-to-date on the latest training classes and locations of the KEYS program, visit the new KEYS Web site at www.asashop.org/keys. Attendees can register online for the program, view instructor bios, course descriptions and program agenda, and sign up for the KEYS Network - an electronic publication delivering the latest news directly to the subscriber's inbox. The site is also accessible from the home page of ASA's Web site, www.asashop.org.

Net Worth is written by Colby Horton, ASA's electronic communications manager. He can be reached at (800) 272-7467, ext. 234, or by e-mail at colbyh@asashop.org.

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