862 Deacon Cir: Net Neutrality Research Assignment Paper

Net Neutrality
Name:
Law
Instructor:
Date:
Memo
To:
From:
Cc:
Date:
Re: Net Neutrality
Net neutrality is whereby the connecting company that connects a consumer to the internet and which is not in control of what the consumer does on the internet. It means that people should be in a position to access applications and content in totality in spite of the source without any restrictions from the service providers.
Since the era of the internet began, its creators had an assumption that the transmitted information was equally treated just like voices over the phones. It was this that formed the basis of its growth and expansion from the fringe service to worldwide communication services it offers today. The companies that were the providers of the internet services consolidated into small giant providers despite the information been provided on the internet growing exponentially. The consolidation of power into the hands of these few service providers gave them the freedom to start degrading and prioritizing some content that went through the channels they are controlling.
When this abuse came into light, FCC was requested by the Americans to come in and codify the network neutrality ‘presumption' to some actual regulations. These regulations were to prevent the discriminatory or preferential engagement of ISPs for their good regarding financial gain or any other thing of the sort. Due to this request, FCC acted accordingly and in 2010 enacted the Open Internet Order. The order was to prevent large firms of telecommunication from online innovation and competition-stifling. In the order, the agency highlighted that the rules of net neutrality were meant for the preservation of internet as a platform that is open. This is in such a way that the users had a choice and they could express themselves freely. It was such that the internet allowed competition, end-user control, and innovation freedom without having to seek permission from the service providers.
In case net neutrality was absent, ISPs could have prevented users from accessing other websites. It could have as well provided services with a very slow speed or making it even worse; it could have redirected consumers from one website to a competing one. The larger companies could have also used ISPs, customers, to buy access priority. For instance, they could have paid ISPs so that they can make their websites more reliable and faster than other potential competitors.
There are six net neutrality principles that were voted for and passed in 2010. They include the following; transparency, mobility, network management, no blocking, vigilance and level playing field. In the transparency principle; it is a right for innovators and consumers to have the knowledge of the characteristics of the basic principles of their internet access. They are also entitled to a right of knowing how the management of their network is being done. The no blocking principle gives the users a right to lawful traffic sending and receiving. The principle prohibits service providers from lawful content blocking and also restricting users from connecting the network with harmless devices. The service providers also have no right to block services and apps from being acc...