Schoolwork

Net Neutrality

Analysis and Summary

By

Lee Keitel, Zachary Bell, Ui-Hyun GU, Chris Weaver

Analysis

This analysis will cover both the pro net neutrality and the anti-net neutrality sides of net neutrality as well as the economic impacts of both. Both sides have good and bad things about them, which will be covered in this analysis.

Pro-Net Neutrality

Net Neutrality is mostly seen as a positive objective and, so far is covered by the common goods law in the United States. This law essentially states that carriers are not responsible for illegal acts carried out through their services. For example, a terrorist that uses a subway to transport him/herself to his target. The subway owners are not responsible for damages and are not able to be sued or held accountable as a cohort to the terrorist act. This type of neutrality allows carriers to expand usage and coverage for cheaper rates because there is no concern about liabilities from the action of its consumers. The laws that end net neutrality include clauses that require carriers to actively monitor their networks and take action against any illegal or criminal activity. This means less privacy for consumers as their devices and network traffic will have to be monitored by carriers as mandated by these laws. For this part of the net neutrality, the pro to having net neutrality is extra privacy and the con is these services may be able to be used against us.

Net neutrality prevents companies from forcing users to use only specific applications and services. If companies can control what users use, then monopolies and cartels could form between carriers and software firms, which would lead to price gauging and service pricing such as seen by cable providers. For example, if users want to use more than basic applications on the net, without net neutrality, these users could have to pay more based on what applications they want to use, but with net neutrality, anybody can use the net for most purposes...