Why battle for Net neutrality in the US matters globally

NET neutrality has been a contentious topic around the world for more than a few years now but the truth of the matter is, it shouldn't be contentious at all. The Internet - though not necessarily intended as such when it was created - has become the true equaliser and must remain that way.

It doesn't matter if you're big or small, rich or poor: on the Internet your voice can be heard and then multiplied a billion times over and span the globe. A neutral Internet protects these voices, giving parity to all data, regardless of its source.

So why then, is there such a contentious debate over Net neutrality? Why does the United States seem at times frighteningly close to passing legislation which would destroy that neutrality and create an Internet controlled by a small group of multimedia conglomerates?