Recent concerns about net neutrality written in the Iowa State Daily do not square with history. Steffen Schmidt and Sarah DeAngelo are concerned Internet service providers will price Internet Web sites and users off the Internet.

Look at what has occurred in recent decades, though. Internet access costs have dropped. Broadband service costs today what dial-up service cost 10 years ago — and without time limits some had. More people have Internet access, and many businesses offer free Wi-Fi. Even Ames apartments offer Internet for free.

All of this occurred without net neutrality being law. From this, it’s a stretch to claim the federal government must legislate contractual bargaining away from Internet service providers and consumers. Other than sparse indications and frightening hypothetical scenarios, the writers provide no circumstantial evidence to make their case. What’s worse, they show a startling lack of concern for the property of service providers.

“[Net neutrality] is everyone’s business, and we all have a stake in the outcome,” says Schmidt, as if the resources used to provide ever more Internet aren’t the legitimate concerns of a service provider, but are up for grab by all.

Both writers explain well the value of the Internet, but this value should be freely determined by consumers and providers. What if consumers value censored Web sites, faster speeds to play games or some other alternative Internet service packages similar to TV packages? Service providers should be free to offer them and consumers able to accept or reject them.

Theodore Wolff

Ames resident