Net Neutrality Brief

Net Neutrality

According to Columbia law professor Tim Wu, the definition of network neutrality "is that a maximally useful public information network [the internet] aspires to treat all content, sites, and platforms equally." Advocates of net neutrality (NN) want legislation that prevents privately-owned internet service providers (ISPs) from limiting or blocking access to particular websites. They argue that NN prevents ISPs from having monopolistic power over internet services, as well as the ability to effectively censor websites.

Critics of net neutrality argue that it amounts to regulation and censorship that will be detrimental to competition. In the past, they've advocated for legislation opposed to NN, and have allies in the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission.

Federally, no legislation has been passed in congress either way, but the FTC has said that it will not enforce net neutrality, and there are some reports of ISPs "breaching" net neutrality. In Michigan, net neutrality became an issue when advocates opposed HB 6456 (2006), more well-known as a telecommunications and cable bill.

For Net Neutrality
- Broadly seen as the "Democrats' position"
- Supported by Google, the Gun Owners of America, MoveOn.org, Consumers Union, American Library Association, Christian Coalition of America, ACLU, and Teamsters, among others
- The pro-NN grassroots coalition is at http://www.savetheinternet.com, and a group of pro-NN corporations is at http://www.openinternetcoalition.com

Against Net Neutrality
- Broadly seen as the "Republicans' position"
- Supported by the Center for Individual Freedom, American Conservative Union, National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, AT&T, Time Warner Cable, Comcast, and Verizon, among others
- Industry-backed anti-NN websites can be found at http://netcompetition.org and http://handsoff.org

Sources
http://timwu.org/network_neutrality.html
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/ (Search for HB 6456 of 2006)
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2006/08/neutrality.shtm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21376597/