Network Neutrality A quick primer Network Neutrality is
- Slides: 9
Network Neutrality: A quick primer Network Neutrality is a national issue that raises economic and political issues not a issue with a simple answer Key interested parties are large on-line content providers and Internet access providers Impact of decisions could be on U. S. and all Internet users Before understanding network neutrality, need to understand how money flows on the Internet January, 2011 0
A Simplified Internet Content Providers 1 Network Providers (Primarily) Consumers January, 2011
A Simplified Internet 2 January, 2011
Who pays for data? 3 $$$ $$ $ $ $$$$ Who pays for new (high bandwidth) services? January, 2011
National Policy Issue: Network Neutrality Net Neutrality Supporters: Big on-line companies, Administration, free speech advocates Position: Need regulations to ensure traffic processing and pricing on the Internet should be content agnostic Key concerns: equal/unbridled access to all content; maintaining attractive platform for innovation Opposed to new regulation: Phone companies, cable operators Position: On-line companies free-load on networks; endusers will pay an unfair share of network costs Key concerns: value equation for consumers wrong; network “abusers” or new services require traffic shaping January, 2011 4
5 Why a Policy Issue? If affects free speech, should not be determined by the market place Competition in Internet access is limited; classic situation where regulation is employed Monopoly/content concerns with major service providers (e. g. Comcast+NBC) also being major content providers Still, the market has provided some possible solutions ESPN 3, traffic shaping solutions, pricing models January, 2011
6 In Their Own Words… January, 2011
7 In Their Own Words… January, 2011
8 Policy Resolution? Initial (unpublished) policy has come from FCC, but Verizon taking issue to the courts; no one fully satisfied Relatively recent tectonic shifts in the argument Google and Verizon issue joint position on Net neutrality for current networks/services Possible new models for new networks/service What’s the right answer? Is this a U. S. issue? A global issue? For Google/Verizon view, see: http: //googlepublicpolicy. blogspot. com/2010/08/jointpolicy-proposal-for-open-internet. html January, 2011