In an era when students will be mandated to take achievement tests online, another challenge looms. A concept called “net neutrality” or “open internet” is worth googling and learning about. In short, the Federal Communications Commission is deciding if they should maintain a policy that all internet traffic should be remain equal. This means bandwidth, the speed and capacity of internet use, could be improved if a large company paid more money for better service. That would allow big phone and entertainment companies to receive the best internet service while schools and students would continue to struggle with inadequate internet service.
The FCC is accepting comments and feedback on this issue through September 10, 2014. My feedback to the FCC on the economic and educational consequences of this decision is below. You can submit your own by searching for filing 14-28 at this link: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/upload/display?z=qrvf5
The internet is a commodity that has been the sole accelerant of our economy for the past twelve years, through good times and many bad. Providing more power or control of the market to large corporations through control of the internet will stifle all of the sole proprietorships and small businesses who have contributed to the world economy.
As an educator, I am fearful that decisions to allow corporations who can afford more and better internet access for entertainment and information-sharing purposes will further punish our education system. The same government who is requiring students to participate in high-stakes testing online cannot provide yet another challenge to meeting those goals unless the intent is clearly to further separate the haves and have-nots.
Please carefully consider all of the implications of abandoning net neutrality and the open internet.