A new tool has been released to test whether your ISP truly provides you with net neutrality. Net neutrality or network neutrality is related to the concept of restrictions of broadband networks. A broadband network that is by definition neutral is one that doesn’t contain any restrictions. These could relate to anything from content, websites to what can be attached or even the levels of permitted communication. It also refers to anything that could affect the communication levels.

The Internet was created with a view of openness and breaking down barriers which is why many people take issue with ISPs that apply their own restrictions. The most famous of Internet restrictions is the “Great Firewall of China”. The Chinese government is well known to restrict the content that its citizens are permitted to view. This adds to people’s concerns about net neutrality. The China example is often cited as the way the western world could go if too much credence is given to calls for censorship.

The concern is that broadband and mobile broadband providers use their own methods to restrict various Internet content and applications. It is even suggested that content of competitors could be restricted. Many of the Internet’s key figures such as Tim Berners Lee (Founder of the web) among others have been vocal in the support of true net neutrality. While net neutrality has its supporters, it also has its detractors.

A tool called “Switzerland” has been released by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) with the sole purpose of fighting the corner of net neutrality. Switzerland will help you to discover if your broadband or mobile broadband provider is giving you a truly neutral network.

You can download the tool here, through Soundforge. Its a great and simple way to test if your provider is net neutral.