Berners-Lee slams US on net neutrality

Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the worldwide web, is concerned that a lack of net neutrality could threaten internet innovation.

In a post on his blog titled Net Neutrality: This is serious, Berners-Lee explained his worry that, without net neutrality, legislation-free use of the internet by millions in the US could come to an end. 

"When I invented the web, I didn't have to ask anyone's permission. Now, hundreds of millions of people are using it freely. I am worried that this is going end in the USA", Berners-Lee wrote.

Urging the US government to protect net neutrality, Berners-Lee commented: " Let's see whether the US is capable of acting according to its important values, or whether it is, as so many people are saying, run by the misguided short-term interest of large corporations."

Aiming to clarify some misinformation distributed by telecoms companies to prevent legislation being passed, he defined the issue of net neutrality as: " If I pay to connect to the net with a certain quality of service, and you pay to connect with that or a greater quality of service, then we can communicate at that level. That's all. It's up to the ISPs to make sure they interoperate so that that happens."

Net neutrality is not about a free internet or preventing someone from paying more for a higher quality of service, according to Berners-Lee.

While acknowledging that the internet generally thrives without regulation, Berners-Lee insisted that it is still important to maintain basic values.

"The market system depends on the rule that you can't photocopy money. Democracy depends on freedom of speech. Freedom of connection, with any application, to any party, is the fundamental social basis of the internet," he said.

See also:

Net neutrality bill falters in US Senate

Commerce committee fails to reach agreement on two-tier internet  13 Jun 2006

US Congress rejects net neutrality bill

Brace yourself for the two-tier internet  07 Apr 2006

Vint Cerf calls for net neutrality

Father of the internet seeks curbs on broadband providers  14 Nov 2005

Berners-Lee voted Greatest Briton of 2004

Further honours for the 'father of the web'  28 Jan 2005

Web inventor goes back to school

Berners-Lee takes chair of computer science at University of Southampton  03 Dec 2004

World wide web creator gains 'K' upgrade

Sir Tim Berners-Lee heads sizeable tech-gong list  02 Jan 2004

Web inventor sees more interactive net

Tim Berners-Lee, the scientist credited with inventing the world wide web, has outlined his hopes of a future where the web becomes more personal and responsive to the user.  05 Oct 2000

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