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(UNDATED)--Communication activists are feeling that the time is ripe for what they say is a restoration of equality on the Internet. This concept is known as net neutrality. Proponents of the idea argue that the Internet grew up in an era where everybody was essentially on the same Internet. That changed in the NCTA v. Brand X  U.S. Supreme Court decision of 2005. Prior to this case, it was assumed that Internet service providers were common carriers in the same way that railroads and telephone companies are. That is, they are prevented by federal regulation for discriminating against users. They have to provide the same rates and service for users. The big telecommunication companies had been wanting to essentially be able to tier their services, that is, offer different packages to different users. Since that decision, communication policy activists have been asking the Federal Communications Commission and congress to put forth laws preserving what is essentially a network neutral environment.

Curiously, some of the most successful Internet companies are on the side of net neutrality. The CEOs of such companies as Google, Yahoo, Ebay, and Amazon, all grew up in the era of net neutrality. They were able to grow, they argue, because they had the same access to the Internet as everyone else. Net Neutrality proponent also argue that there is a freedom of speech issue involved. People are able to disseminate their ideas on the Internet, because they are treated equally.

The big telecommunication companies are the major opponents of net neutrality. Robert Pepper, of Cisco systems says, that even in a world where Internet service providers can tier services for different consumers, the scenario of the Net Neutrality proponents is unlikely to happen, he argues that the providers still have to respond to consumer needs.

Even though North Dakota has less than a million people and may not be thought of as a high-tech haven, some of the biggest advocates on this issue have been prominent North Dakotans.

U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan authored the first net neutrality legislation in 2006. In a news release at that time, Dorgan said, "The Internet’s open architecture allows access to the Internet for everyone equally. That access has been the cornerstone of the Internet’s growth so far, and is vital to its continued success in the future.”

Former Governor Ed Schafer , prior to serving as Bush’s last Department of Agriculture Secretary, a post he had for a year, was a lobbyist for the telecommunications industry and wrote opinion pieces for newspapers on the industry’s opposition to regulation.

Proponents of net neutrality say the time to pass it is now. The Obama administration supports it, as does the current FCC. The Democratic congress is largely in favor of it. Proponents say they may never have a better opportunity.