Being one of the most discussed and debated topic on Internet, users(including Netizens/Netheads) has their wrong assumptions on what Net Neutrality actually means. This slide shares a collected information about Net Neutrality in a simplified format. Network neutrality is the principle that all Internet traffic should be treated equally. According to Columbia Law School professor Tim Wu, the best way to explain network neutrality is that a public information network will end up being most useful if all content, sites, and platforms are treated equally.

1. Network Neutrality
by
K.Akhil
www.2dbattlejet.ga

2. WHAT DOES IT MEAN ?
• Net neutrality is the principle that Internet providers and governments should
treat all data on the Internet equally, not discriminating or charging differentially
by content, site, platform, application, type of attached equipment, or mode of
communication.
• Term was coined by Columbia University media law professor Tim Wu in 2003 as
an extension of the long-standing concept of a common carrier.
• Mainly affects content providers. Should cable and phone companies be allowed
to create a tiered pricing service for some sites to operate faster than others?

3. WHAT DOESN’T IT MEAN?
• Doesn’t mean charging users for faster Internet at the users’ location.
• Doesn’t mean setting up a government regulated monopoly to run the Internet.
• Doesn’t affect a company’s ability to optimize a website to improve performance.
• Doesn't mean that the government bureaucracy is worse than ISP dominance.
• Doesn't mean that the FCC is always regulating the Internet.

4. SUPPORTERS
• Vint Cerf, Tim Berners-Lee, Lawrence Lessig.
• Companies like Yahoo, Ebay and Amazon.
• Supporters of network neutrality want to designate cable companies as common
carriers, which would require them to allow content providers free access to
cable lines for broadband/mobile, the same as dial-up Internet.
• Common carrier status would give the FCC(Federal Communication Commissions)
the power to enforce net neutrality rules.
• Would potentially give broadband carriers the ability to control what you see and
do online.
• Could reduce competition and limit innovation.

5. OPPONENTS
• Comcast, AT&T, Bob Metcalfe, Ted Cruz, Mark Cuban.
• Allow tiered services for the faster transmission of packets to some companies to
allow for great profitability to invest in the network.
• Free market control of Internet and hands-off Internet.
• Government control could affect investing in and replacing Internet infrastructure
over time.

6. PROS:
• Preserving Internet Standards
• Faster basic Internet plans
• Free and Open Communication Fosters Democracy
CONS:
• Corporate Greed
• Bandwidth Allocation
• Forced Subscriptions

7. ISP ARGUMENTS:
• Infrastructure Needs Development
• Need Funding for Innovation
• Freedom of Business
CONSUMER EXPLOITATION:
• Force to Use Certain Services
• Block all Peer to Peer Technologies
• Exclusive Deals with Content Providers
• Monitor all Online Activity

8. ARGUMENTS AGAINST NET NEUTRALITY
• According to the Journal, when President Barack Obama announced his support
for strong net neutrality rules late in 2014.
• Google Chairman Schmidt told a top White House official the president was
making a mistake.
• A number of other opponents created Hands Off The Internet,[138] a website
created in 2006 to promote arguments against internet regulation.
• Nobel Prize-winning economist Gary Becker's paper titled, "Net Neutrality and
Consumer Welfare", claims of net neutrality proponents "do not provide a
compelling rationale for regulation"

9. WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW?
• FCC has made a proposal to reclassify broadband/mobile providers as common
carriers under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934.
• Described by FCC as a “light-touch” implementation of Title II.
• The FCC’s original position was to allow cable companies the ability to engage in
“commercially reasonable” traffic management.
• Last year, the FCC had an open commenting period (120 days) on Net Neutrality.
3.7 million comments were made on the FCC website. Fewer than 1% were
opposed.

10. REFERENCES
• Berners-Lee, Tim (21 June 2006). "Net Neutrality: This is serious". timbl's blog.
Retrieved 26 December 2008.
• Hagai Bar-El (19 Aug 2014). "Protecting Network Neutrality: Both Important and
Hard". Retrieved 19 Aug 2014.
• http://www.savetheinternet.com/net-neutrality-what-you-need-know-now
• http://www.wsj.com/articles/fcc-approves-net-neutrality-rules-setting-stage-for-
legal-battle-1424974319
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality