1. Net Neutrality Gavin Baker Association of Information Technology Professionals, North Central Florida Chapter Gainesville, FL 13 November 2007

2. Contents ● Network design – History – Implications ● Debate ● Regulatory history & legislation ● Myths ● Conclusion ● Questions & discussion

3. Not like this

4. Computers 1 3 24

5. A network 1 3 24

6. Some networks 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24

7. A network of networks 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24

8. Dumb by design 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24

9. Dumb like the post office USPS

10. More like this 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24 1 3 24

11. The Internet ● A global, privatized, distributed post office ● Common carrier

12. The Internet ● A network of networks ● Connections between the networks are neutral w/r/t the source, destination, content, application, device, etc.

13. Effects of neutrality ● Cheap to send content ● From any sender ● To any destination ● Any kind of content ● For any application ● To any device

14. Welcome to the market New entrants!

15. New entrants = innovation ● Economic ● Political ● Social ● Whatever

16. What's the debate? ● Some ISPs want to abandon Net neutrality ● Why? – Want to charge based on source or application ● e.g. “preferential” treatment for partners

17. It looks like this “William L. Smith, chief technology officer for Atlanta-based BellSouth Corp., told reporters and analysts that an Internet service provider such as his firm should be able, for example, to charge Yahoo Inc. for the opportunity to have its search site load faster than that of Google Inc. Or, Smith said, his company should be allowed to charge a rival voice-over-Internet firm so that its service can operate with the same quality as BellSouth's offering.” Jonathan Krim, “Executive Wants to Charge for Web Speed,” Washington Post, December 1, 2005.

19. Regulatory history ● Dial-up: NN required – common carrier ● DSL: as above (originally) ● Cable: unregulated ● DSL: de-regulated to match cable standard ● FCC has adopted standards, but no teeth ● AT&T/BellSouth merger (2006): imposed as condition – expires in 2 years

20. Legislation ● Effort to legislate in Congress starting last year ● Legislation has not yet passed; momentum was tied to omnibus telecom bill, which died in last Congress ● Effort to legislate in states as well

21. Myths ● New, unnecessary regulation ● Higher quality service ● Good for the little guy ● Tiers != degradation ● ISPs need the $ for new rollout ● Telcos own the Net ● Market will decide

22. Myth #1 ● Myth: Net neutrality is “new regulation” ● Fact: It was established law until very recently.

23. Myth #2 ● Myth: Network discrimination will benefit consumers with higher-quality services. ● Fact: Network discrimination will severely curtail consumer choice, giving consumer control over the Internet to the network owners. – “Tony Soprano” model: Stand between content and consumers; demand a cut from strangers; let your friends go for free.

24. Myth #3 ● Myth: Network discrimination will favor the “little guy” over large companies. ● Fact: Network discrimination will undermine innovation, investment, and competition. – How many venture capitalists will embrace a business plan if the first line reads: “Strike a favorable deal with AT&T”?

25. Myth #4 ● Myth: Discriminatory “tiers” of service will not harm or degrade any other content. ● Fact: Network discrimination through a “tiered Internet” will fundamentally alter the consumer’s online experience by creating fast and slow lanes for Internet content. – network prioritization is a zero-sum game

26. Myth #5 ● Myth: If Network Neutrality is preserved, telephone companies will not build out their networks. ● Fact: Discrimination creates an incentive to maintain scarcity. Investing in increased bandwidth is the most efficient way to solve network congestion problems.

27. Myth #6 ● Myth: Telephone companies “own” the Internet. ● Fact: Telephone companies have received billions of dollars in public subsidies to support network build-out.

28. Myth #7 ● Myth: There is plenty of competition in the broadband market. If consumers don't like ISPs that violate Net neutrality, they'll switch to a competitor. ● Fact: There is little competition in the broadband market. – Most consumers have only 2 or less providers in their area; many have none.

29. Summary ● Neutrality is the design principle that makes the Internet so valuable ● Neutrality was the law ● Internet providers still basically follow it, but have threatened to break it

30. Summary ● Neutrality will not bankrupt the Internet providers ● Breaking neutrality will not encourage infrastructure investments ● Competition will not hold ISPs accountable

31. Summary ● Neutrality is a principle worth preserving ● Congress must act ● Questions?