Transcript ppt - Common Solutions Group

Net Neutrality:
The fight to control the Internet
What is net neutrality?
The concept of keeping the Internet open to
all lawful content, information, applications, and
equipment in a non-discriminatory manner
In other words:
Packets cannot be prioritized in order to favor a
network owner’s or an affiliate’s content
Different levels of service must be offered the
same way to everyone
Why worry?
Network providers, mainly telephone and cable
companies, are moving into voice, data, television,
and movies.
They have the means, the incentive, and the
declared intent to discriminate …. And there is no
law against it.
This could slow our traffic, raise our costs, and
stifle innovation “at the edge” of the net
Why worry now?
“Common Carriage” required NN for the
public telephone systems
The dial-up Internet WAS regulated for NN
With broadband, the technology, the
competition, and the law changed
NN no longer required as of last year
Every other country has some type of nondiscrimination rules in place.
Many offer much faster service at lower cost
Why should the education
community care?
We are large consumers and producers of
online content
We are increasingly dependent on the Internet
to fulfill our mission of education, research and
community outreach
We are Internet innovators
The loss of NN fundamentally alters the
nature of the Internet
Arguments against NN
It is a solution without a problem…
Networks are private property….
Net neutrality would discourage
investment…
We shouldn’t regulate the Internet
It is a solution without a
problem…
The opportunity for phone companies to
discriminate is fairly new
There have been several documented cases of
discrimination and as the video over IP market
matures there will be more
Policy makers have experience with other
markets under similar circumstances
Networks are private property
“The telephone and cable companies have spent
billions on their networks, they should be able
to run them however they wish, and decide
who can use them and who can’t.”
But….
Networks need rules because…..
Current infrastructure was built under
government protected monopolies
(competition)
More than 2 connections to the home is
unlikely anytime soon (competition)
Other countries experience lower prices and
higher speeds (competition)
Internet is a vital public service
The Internet can’t be “owned”
NN would discourage investment
in new infrastructure….
Government does not control the rates for
broadband access
The cable operators have already made the
investment
For phone companies, upgrading to fiber will
happen with or without NN
Where are we now?
FCC: Four Principles of Internet Freedom
Congress:
House: Barton Bill
• Possible Amendment
• Judiciary introduces their own bill
Senate: Stevens Bill
• Snowe/Dorgan Amendment
• Judiciary interested
Learn more and spread the word
www.savetheinternet.com
www.educause.edu/netneutrality