Network Neutrality
Network Neutrality is the concept that network operators provide free and non-discriminatory transport on their networks between the endpoints of the Internet. This has been a basic concept and function of the Internet since it was invented, and is adopted by the FCC in these four principles to ensure that broadband networks are widely deployed, open, affordable, and accessible to all consumers:
- Consumers are entitled to access the lawful Internet content of their choice
- Consumers are entitled to run applications and services of their choice, subject to the needs of law enforcement
- Consumers are entitled to connect their choice of legal devices that do not harm the network
- Consumers are entitled to competition among network providers, application and service providers, and content providers
NYCwireless is challenging every broadband provider to embrace these and make a public statement supporting them.
Protect our Net Freedoms: Send Congress and your ISP a message
Additional Information
Listen to Media Minutes podcast produced by FreePress with background information about Network Neutrality:
A primer on network neutrality: what is it, how does it work, why is it important – and why are phone and cable companies so opposed to it? And Indiana becomes the latest battleground in the fight for the right of cities and towns to build out their own broadband networks.
Cybertelecom
What’s at Stake :: Open Access and Content—HearUsNow.org
Importance of the Internet Public Support for Net Neutrality—HearUsNow.org
Internet Freedom Under Fire: Act Now—FreePress
The Center for Digital Democracy lists papers about Deep Packet Inspection, which is how your ISP can watch the information that gets transmitted over your broadband connection.
Tim Wu, a law professor at Columbia University, has published an article that argues that “Government regulation in such contexts invariably tries to help ensure that the short-term interests of the owner do not prevent the best products or applications becoming available to end-users. The same interest animates the promotion of network neutrality: preserving a Darwinian competition among every conceivable use of the Internet so that the only the best survive.”
Press
SBC: We Own The Internet, So Google Should Pay Up—(TechDirt, Oct. 31, 2005)
Dave Farber’s Interesting People mailing list—(Nov. 2, 2005)
NYCwireless launches Network Neutrality Broadband Challenge—(MuniWireless, Nov. 2, 2005)
Network Neutrality Broadband Challenge—(Benton Foundation, Nov. 4, 2005)
Supporting Network Neutrality—(Broadband Reports, Nov. 5, 2005)
At SBC, It’s All About Scale and Scope—(Business Week, Nov. 7, 2005) includes SBC CEO comments
Vonage Claims Price ‘Blocking’ Of VoIP—(Networking Pipeline, Aug. 22, 2005)
Why It’s Important To Be Neutral—(ISP Planet, Nov. 21, 2005)
Advocates of citywide Wi-Fi learn art of politics—(New York Times, Jan. 19, 2006)
Senate looks at network neutrality and likes it—(ArsTechnica, Feb. 8, 2006)