Network (Internet) Neutrality CMPT 771 Qiang (Scott) Zhang

Introduction What is Network Neutrality? ◦ Tim Wu in 2003 ◦ A policy meant to limit a new kind of discrimination: Internet Discrimination  Filtering of data packets

The Debates Technological detail ◦ Quality of service Economic analysis ◦ Differential pricing can increase the economic warfare ◦ Incentive to invest in new technologies Regulatory perspective ◦ Internet freedom ◦ ISPs’ discrimination

Intermediate Approach – x model Dividing the capacity of each ISP into two parts ◦ A fraction 1-x of an ISP’s capacity every T seconds to operate as current ◦ A fraction x every T seconds is granted ownership rights ◦ For example, T = 10ms, x = 0.1  Delay for no-premium user is 1 ms per router

Math Equations Is the ISP profit U is user surplus S is social surplus

Graph

Appling x Rule to All Links

Worse scenario

Enforcement of x-rule Hardware-restrained enforcement ◦ Switch manufactures are responsible for ensuring that the mandated fraction is maintained. Operational enforcement ◦ Each switch is mandated to record the capacity usage by premium traffic

Technical Issues 1 Traffic differentiation ◦ Switch must posses the ability to distinguish between basic and premium traffic  Type of service filed in IPv4  Optional field Tamper-proof counters ◦ Traffic statistics ◦ Network management services -- SNMP

Technical Issue 2 Switch accessibility ◦ Mapping between IP addresses and switches and release such information to inspecting authority Authentication and data encryption ◦ Preventing unauthorized access ◦ Prevent data intercept and manipulation on the path