CPS 49: The Global Commons
Cooperation and Conflict on the Internet
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Network Neutrality

One of the key design principles of the Internet is that data transmission is independent of the content of packets, or the application that uses them. The Internet is a universal data transmission facility that can enable a wide range of applications, including many applications that the creators of the Internet never envisioned, such as the World-Wide Web or distributed systems for sharing files.

This "application neutral" Internet has given rise to a thriving market for content and services. The fruits of this market include some very profitable companies, such as Google or Amazon. These companies depend on a reliable, neutral Internet for their business. However, the companies that own and operate the Internet (Internet Service Providers or ISPs) are facing increasing pressure in their "commodity" market, and trends suggest that their business may become less profitable over time.

ISPs would like to find a way to differentiate their product offerings or otherwise increase their profitability. One way is to charge the more profitable content producers to use their networks. That is, in addition to charging a consumer for an Internet connection, the ISP may also charge Google to respond to searches from that consumer. If Google does not pay, then the ISP may obstruct the traffic.

Can they do that?

This state of affairs has led to a thriving legislative debate over network neutrality. After the FCC indicated that they interpret the legislation in effect as not limiting the ways that ISPs manage their networks, some legislators began to introduce legislation barring ISPs from discriminating against traffic on the basis of (legal) content, except under the direction of the consumer. So far, this legislation has been defeated. A quick search of political sites and blogging sites will reveal an active and sometimes ugly debate.

Your mission is to research the network neutrality debate, form an opinion, and substantiate it. Here are a few links: