Net Neutrality: Neutral Networks Work

In this video, Lawrence Lessig talks about the need for net neutrality in order to increase competition over the internet, and for the FCC to set a network neutrality policy, which is opposed by internet providers. He states that we need to preserve what has worked in driving the economy, and what has worked is a neutral network. Personally, I am in favor of network neutrality because as a customer, more competition is better for me, and the ability of broadband providers to control what I see as a user, and possibly artificially removing competition and creating scarcity, means what I buy may be uncompetitive.

Lessig offers some ideas such as zero discriminatory surcharge, or ZDS, where ISPs shouldn't inflate prices based on artificial scarcity and charging more to certain companies for the same service. He states that it would be fine for an ISP to charge a certain amount for certain data, such as video, as long as each company is charged the same. In his example, iFilm pays twice as much as Google for the same service, and iFilm may not have a choice because of the lack of competition. There could be a non-discriminatory surcharge for video data, as long as each company pays the same, so there is no incentive for destructive business models.

According to the video, it has been shown that net neutrality is the best option for economic growth, especially for businesses that depend on the internet for their core business processes, such as YouTube. It is expressed that lack of competition and choices in broadband providers has caused the U.S. To drop in rankings of broadband penetration when compared to other countries, and that the lack of regulation has facilitated that issue. As users and customers, it is time we started to treat broadband like a commodity, and promote competition in this industry.

Lessig, L. (2008). Lawerence lessig:neutral networks works. [0]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mYbYG-nXVA

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