Should the Internet be neutral as to who gets to post what and who gets to see what, how soon and how often?
Or should an Internet Service Provider (ISP) be able to charge higher fees to some so they have faster, more complete access to potential readers and viewers?
That's what the government is looking to do, overturning the Federal Communications Commission's policy of Net Neutrality.
Compare this plan to your home telephone, another technology that the FCC regulates, along with broadcasting and telecommunications generally. Suppose the phone company wants to offer faster dial tones to telemarketers (for a price) and to limit the time available to teenagers to gossip with friends so the marketers can call at dinnertime to make their sales pitch?
Historically, the phone company has been neutral in providing service to customers, with rates varying according to volume and distance. Access, however, has been equal to all. Having to wait for a dial tone is anathema.
Suppose, however, that did not apply to Internet service providers? They could then offer faster, better access to the network and to its users who pay a higher fee, and perhaps even monitor the content of stuff that users post on their blog sites.
So much for Freedom of Speech.
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