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net neutrality

By Rahul Awati

What is net neutrality?

Net neutrality is the concept of an open, equal internet for everyone, regardless of device, application or platform used and content consumed. Proponents of the idea believe all corporations, including internet service providers (ISPs), should treat internet data and users equally. They should not restrict access, slow down access speeds or block content for some users to serve their own interests.

ISPs should also not make special arrangements with any companies to give them improved network speeds or access.

What are the origins of net neutrality?

Columbia Law School professor Tim Wu coined the term net neutrality in his June 2002 paper, "A Proposal for Network Neutrality." In that paper and another published about a year later, "Network Neutrality, Broadband Discrimination," professor Wu described how the growth of home broadband had created a new, difficult regulatory problem.

He said cable and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) operators had a legitimate right to manage their networks for maximum efficiency. But they should not be allowed to discriminate against certain internet applications and users to advance their own interests or profits. That would result in "market distortion" detrimental to public interests, hinder innovation and hurt companies locked out of participation.

His proposal for net neutrality tried to balance the competing interests by "forbidding broadband operators, absent a showing of harm, from restricting what users do with their internet connection, while giving the operator freedom to manage bandwidth consumption and other matters of local concern."

Not allowed for restriction were internetwork indicia, such as Internet Protocol address or application type. Local indicia -- particularly bandwidth -- could be restricted.

The net neutrality debate

Net neutrality is a contentious concept that has had a rollercoasterlike evolution. The debate centers largely around perceptions of the proper role of government regulation and whether internet access should be legally classified as an opt-in service or a public utility.

Who regulates ISPs depends on whether ISPs furnish the following:

Net neutrality supporters believe that the internet should remain free, open and nondiscriminatory and that this is essential for a democratic exchange of ideas and knowledge, ethical business practices, fair competition and ongoing innovation.

Supporters include the following:

Net neutrality opponents, including many ISPs, maintain that government legislation of the internet is an unnecessary barrier to innovation and economic growth. They also point out that consumers already have a choice of using a slower dial-up internet service or paying a premium price for faster speed over broadband -- coaxial cable, DSL or fiber optic services. Further, they state that ISPs already prioritize some traffic to maintain quality of service.

Many ISPs favor a two-tiered internet service model that lets them charge a premium fee for priority placement and faster speed across their carrier network pipes. In this model, ISPs can legally create internet "fast lanes" that give preferential treatment for certain companies to promote their own services to their customers. In return for this preferential treatment, the ISP earns extra money.

ISPs also favor zero rating, which is not charging customers for data use on specific websites and services by ISPs and mobile service providers. Providers can create tempting limited data plans for customers while favoring their own, affiliate or popular sites. Websites and services can pay to be zero-rated and receive more traffic.

What are the benefits of net neutrality?

Despite its uneven evolution, net neutrality is seen as largely successful. Its supporters maintain that the concept helps uphold important values, such as the following:

Net neutrality evolution

Here's a look at key milestones in net neutrality history:

Net neutrality today

Net neutrality supporters worry that large ISPs may take advantage of their FCC-approved freedom. They may not slow down or block competing services yet, but they may exempt their own content from data limits, enabling their customers access to this content without it counting against their data plan.

Many ISPs are introducing data caps into their plans, as they can with limited regulation. While net neutrality remains important, currently, it does not seem to be high on the priority lists of most people or politicians.

17 Aug 2021

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