Given how Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh have consistently fearmongered about net neutrality -- essentially describing it as a government plot to control what you see on the Internet -- it's clear they have no idea what they're talking about. So maybe they need to read up on the current dispute between Comcast and Level 3, one of the nation's biggest Internet backbone companies, to learn what net neutrality is actually about.
First, let's recap just some of the unhinged rhetoric from Beck and Limbaugh to illustrate what net neutrality is not about:
- On November 23, Limbaugh said that net neutrality "limit[s] the amount of conservatism that you will be able to find on the Internet."
- On November 22, Beck claimed the net neutrality rules are "basically a Fairness Doctrine for the Internet" and would allow the government to "control what you see on the Internet."
- On May 18, Limbaugh claimed that President Obama, Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, and Cass Sunstein want "forced neutrality" to make sure you're reading their "garbage."
- On May 10, Beck said that the FCC is "marching forward" with net neutrality plans, suggests it's putting a "boot on your throat"
- On May 6, Beck stated of net neutrality: "This will control every aspect of the Internet ... We are losing our country"
- On April 9, Beck claimed that net neutrality is the prelude to a "hostile takeover" of America.
Of course, Beck and Limbaugh are not the only right-wing media figures who believe that net neutrality is some sort of government plot to control Internet content. And as Media Matters has noted, Beck, Limbaugh, and the rest are simply wrong about net neutrality.
Perhaps they need a potential real-world application of what net neutrality rules might actually regulate to better understand the concept. So let's take a look at the battle between Comcast and Level 3 to show them what net neutrality is about.
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