Open Internet, Net Neutrality & Digital Divide
Published by Emil Abraham,
Net neutrality is the idea that internet service providers (ISPs) should treat all content flowing through their cables and cell towers equally. That means they shouldn't be able to slide some data into "fast lanes" while blocking or otherwise discriminating against other material. In other words, these companies shouldn't be able to block you from accessing a service like Skype, or slow down Netflix or Hulu, in order to encourage you to keep your cable package or buy a different video-streaming service.
Net neutrality advocates have long argued that keeping the internet an open playing field is crucial for innovation. If broadband providers pick favorites online, new companies and technologies might never have the chance to grow. For example, had internet providers blocked or severely limited video streaming in the mid-2000s, we might not have Netflix or YouTube today. Other advocates highlight the importance of net neutrality to free expression: a handful of large telecommunications companies dominate the broadband market, which puts an enormous amount of power into their hands to suppress particular views or limit online speech to those who can pay the most.
Net neutrality advocates worry that we'll soon see fast lanes appearing on the internet. A broadband provider might, for example, allow some companies to pay for priority treatment on broadband networks. The fear is that, over time, companies and organizations that either can't afford priority treatment, or simply aren't offered access to it, will fall by the wayside.
In India, some companies came forward, offering zero rating plans, facilitating internet access to a wide rural population. Though it seems like a noble cause at first, there are some isses.
(i) When a company (ISP) claims that they are providing free internet package, what they are in fact providing is a collection of handpicked sites, which cannot be called as Internet, but as a minor subset of the same. This would inturn result in a fencing effect, by favouring the privileged and leaving the underprivileged at a disadvantageous state by denying them the open Internet.
(ii) Though the user is not paying for the service, the web portals are paying the ISPs to get featured within the package. This will create an entry barrier, i.e., only those who can afford to pay the ISPs will get a place in the package. This will affect startups and the strive for innovation. Had this been the case, we would not have seen companies like Google and Facebook now.
(iii) Another issue is favouritism towards ISP-owned/related websites. Even if one decides to upgrade their package by payying a fee, the list of sites are decided by the ISP. It will have the sites you wanted, but also some sites the ISP wants you to visit will be clubbed together which would most probably be the counterparts to the sites you want. This is being done with the intention that slowly, you will start prefering their services to the ones you use now.
(iv) Vendor locking - these services and goodies are budled with the ISPs or their devices, once you decide to move to another, you might not be able to access the same set of data services.
(v) Since most people access Internet through their phones, those who are only familiar with this system might end up developing a skewed vision of the Internet since they would be familiar with only a certain set of sites and services.
A literal interpretation of network neutrality, for working purposes, is the principle that all electronic communication passing through a network is treated equally. That all communication is treated equally means that it is treated independent of (i) content, (ii) application, (iii) service, (iv) device, (v) sender address, and (vi) receiver address. Sender and receiver address implies that the treatment is independent of end user and content/application/service provider".
Digital Divide
The Digital Divide, or the digital split, is a social issue referring to the differing amount of information between those who have access to the Internet (specially broadband access) and those who do not have access. The term became popular among concerned parties, such as scholars, policy makers, and advocacy groups, in the late 1990s.
Dimensions of the Divide
Broadly speaking, the difference is not necessarily determined by the access to the Internet, but by access to ICT (Information and Communications Technologies) and to Media that the different segments of society can use. With regards to the Internet, the access is only one aspect, other factors such as the quality of connection and related services should be considered. Today the most discussed issue is the availability of the access at an affordable cost and quality.
The digital divide is not indeed a clear single gap which divides a society into two groups. Researchers report that disadvantage can take such forms as lower-performance computers, lower-quality or high price connections (i.e. narrowband or dialup connection), difficulty of obtaining technical assistance, and lower access to subscription-based contents.
Bridging the Gap
The idea that some information and communication technologies are vital to quality civic life is not new. Some suggest that the Internet and other ICTs are somehow transforming society, improving our mutual understanding, eliminating power differentials, realizing a truly free and democratic world society, and other benefits.
In many countries, access to the telephone system is considered such a vital element that governments implement various policies to offer affordable telephone service. Unfortunately some countries lack sufficient telephone lines.
Literacy is arguably another such element, although it is not related to any new technologies or latest technological devices. It is a very widely shared view in many societies that being literate is essential to one's career, to self-guided learning, to political participation, and to Internet usage.
Unfortunately, in the world there are still 757 million adults including 115 million youths who cannot read or write a simple sentence.
There are a variety of arguments regarding why closing the digital divide is important. The major arguments are the following:
1. Economic equality
Some think that the access to the Internet is a basic component of civil life that some developed countries aim to guarantee for their citizens. Telephone is often considered important for security reasons. Health, criminal, and other types of emergencies might indeed be handled better if the person in trouble has an access to the telephone. Another important fact seems to be that much vital information for people's career, civic life, safety, etc. are increasingly provided via the Internet. Even social welfare services are sometimes administered and offered electronically.
2. Social mobility
Some believe that computer and computer networks play an increasingly important role in their learning and career, so that education should include that of computing and use of the Internet. Without such offerings, the existing digital divide works unfairly to the children in the lower socioeconomic status. In order to provide equal opportunities, governments might offer some form of support.
3. Democracy
Some think that the use of the Internet would lead to a healthier democracy in one way or another. Among the most ambitious visions are that of increased public participation in elections and decision making processes.
4. Economic growth
Some think that the development of information infrastructure and active use of it would be a shortcut to economic growth for less developed nations. Information technologies in general tend to be associated with productivity improvements. The exploitation of the latest technologies may give industries of certain countries a competitive advantage.
5. Rural areas access
The accessibility of rural areas to the Internet is a test of the digital divide. But nowadays there are different ways to eliminate the digital divide in rural areas. Use of Power lines (PLT and PLC) and satellite communications offer new possibilities of universal access to the Internet, and lack of telephone lines will not limit access. Lower access prices are required to bridge the ICT divide.
6. Disabilities
Disabilities of potential Internet users constitute another type of divide and care should be taken to avoid that persons with disabilities be left out of Internet access.
"The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect."
-- Tim Berners-Lee,
W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web
Open-Source Movement
Some say there’s no such thing as a free lunch. The open-source movement begs to differ. The prevalence of eLearning has made it easier than ever to create and share open-source resources. Whether it’s lesson plans, a software program, or a collection of media content, teachers might not need to pay for the resources that can help bridge the education gap around the world.
What Does Open-Source Really Mean?
Although the term "open-source" appears often, it’s not always used to mean the same thing. Open-source typically indicates that the content is being shared under a Creative Commons license. There are two important factors for something to qualify as open-source: It doesn’t have a single designated creator, and it’s free to share and distribute.
Probably the best known example of this kind of material is Wikipedia. In this example, the two key components of open-source are readily apparent. Anyone can access all of Wikipedia for free, and at the same time, anyone can contribute to it.
To be effective, the content needs an efficient way for creators to communicate, and a channel to move through. Essentially, this means that open resources could not have existed 30 years ago at nearly the scale that it does today. The worldwide web is now the perfect method of connecting a vast network of teachers and educators. With the increasing integration of eLearning into education, there’s a ready-made opportunity to utilize these resources in every classroom.
How Open-Source Can Address the Education Gap
There is a vast range of open-source resources specifically geared toward educators and trainers. Teachers who don’t take advantage of these tools risk reinventing the wheel, so to speak; they may spend precious time and resources re-doing work that other teachers have already done.
"The move to open education practice (OEP) is more than a shift in content, it is an immersive experience in collaborative teaching and learning," explains the website for OER Commons, one of the leading places to find open-source educational content. "OEP leverages open education resources (OER) to expand the role of educators, allowing teachers to become curators, curriculum designers, and content creators. In sharing teaching tools and strategies, educators network their strengths and improve the quality of education for their students."
Open resources are especially powerful in education for a number of reasons. For one, the underfunded condition of many schools means that free resources are the only kind of resources that teachers can access. Because of the huge disparity in educational opportunity in America, and even more pronounced disparity throughout the world, many teachers have to rely on outdated or impractical teaching materials simply because no others are available.
Undertrained teachers and poorly designed teaching material are both significant factors in the educational achievement gap. Resources that are free and, importantly, easily modifiable provide a way to address this disparity for students around the world.
How Open-Source Changes Education for Students
Besides providing desperately needed training and support to teachers, open educational resources can also have a powerful impact directly on students. Open-source software is an excellent example.
Many software programs exist on two distinct levels. One is the interface that users encounter, and the other is the back-end design that makes the software work. For most commercial software, users will only ever see the interface.
However, open-source programs are different. They encourage anyone to look under the hood, tinker around, pull things apart and put them back together again. For students interested in technology, this software provides an opportunity to learn on a deeply practical level.
In recent years, a number of citizen science initiatives have allowed students to directly participate in open-source science projects, from crowdsourcing cultural heritage reconstruction to exploring the oceans. This encourages students not just to complete projects within the context of their classrooms, but also to engage with a worldwide community of other students and scientists. The feeling of contributing to a community encourages a global perspective. In short, incorporating open-source projects into the classroom can give students a chance to see the real-world impact of their work.