Final answer:
Nielsen's Law states that network speed for high-end users will increase by 50% annually. The growth of the internet's capacity and speed could be affected by the ongoing debate over net neutrality, with concerns for equal access and the democratic nature of the internet taking center stage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nielsen's Law of Internet Bandwidth
Nielsen's Law states that network speed for high-end users will increase by 50% every year. This means that the capacity of the internet is expected to grow significantly, allowing users to have faster access to online content. However, the future of this unrestricted growth is uncertain due to the net neutrality debate. Without net neutrality, larger corporations could pay for "fast-lane" access, potentially shaping the internet into a less democratic space. This poses concerns for equal access and the original peer-to-peer intent of the internet.
The Net Neutrality Debate
Net neutrality is a principle suggesting that all data on the internet should be treated equally, without discrimination by internet service providers. Opponents of net neutrality argue for a tiered service model based on usage, while proponents fear that a lack of neutrality could lead to an unequal playing field, dominated by wealthy corporations and resulting in possible censorship. The potential effects on the openness and the democratic nature of the internet are the core of this debate.