This opinion piece discusses the merits and pre-emptive nature of the latest Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) regulation, through which broadband access was reclassified as a telecommunications service and thus applying Title II (common carrier) of the Telecommunications Act of 1934 to Internet service providers. The argument in favor of this regulation is supported by facts, such as, (a) slower broadband connections drive-away web-surfers, and (b) net-neutrality does not impede innovation.

1. Opinion on Net-Neutrality
Opinion on Net-Neutrality
Mansoor Faridi
Fort Hays State University
March 1, 2015

2. Opinion on Net-Neutrality 1
FCC’s adoption of regulation vis-à-vis Net Neutrality
On February 26, 2015, FCC ruled in favor of net neutrality by reclassifying broadband access as
a telecommunications service and thus applying Title II (common carrier) of the
Communications Act of 1934 to Internet service providers. According to FCC Chairman, Tom
Wheeler, "This is no more a plan to regulate the Internet than the First Amendment is a plan to
regulate free speech. They both stand for the same concept." (Net neutrality, 2015)
In my opinion FCC’s adoption of regulation is a preemptive action in the right direction. I
base this argument on a two simple facts: (1) Slower connections drive-away web-surfers, and
(2) Net-neutrality does not impede innovation.
Slower connections drives away web-surfers
If a web-site takes longer to load then we instinctively abort the session, moving on to another
web-site offering similar information that we were trying to access. This fact is further supported
by Sitaram’s (2013) groundbreaking research in which he states, "What we found was that
people are pretty patient for up to two seconds … if you start out with, say, 100 users — if the
video hasn't started in five seconds, about one-quarter of those viewers are gone, and if the video
doesn't start in 10 seconds, almost half of those viewers are gone."
Figure 1 (below) presents empirical evidence supporting the proportional correlation that
exists between user abandonment rate and internet startup delays.

3. Opinion on Net-Neutrality 2
Figure 1. Relationship between User-abandonment rate & Startup Delay
Net-neutrality does not impede innovation
Some pundits have argues that if Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are not able to charge higher
rates (read as exorbitant) from the subscribers then they will not be able to invest in Research
and Development, and as a result, the consumers will not benefit from ‘latest and greatest’
technological breakthroughs.
I am a personal victim of this price gouging and speak from personal experience. Due to
lower competition in the Canadian marketplace, users are gouged by enforcing ridiculous data
caps on internet usage. Having said that, there is no evidence that quality of service has been
impacted in any way. We have been able to enjoy good quality of service and technological
breakthroughs (as they were implemented) but not forced into any undesirable situations as a
consumer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the preemptive nature of this latest FCC regulation is a welcoming change and
will ensure that consumers rights are protected, and they will continue to enjoy internet service
delivery at reasonable rates with an assurance of FCC vigilance!

4. Opinion on Net-Neutrality 3
References
Net neutrality. (February 26, 2015). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality
Krishnan, S., Sitaraman, R. (2013). Video Stream Quality Impacts Viewer Behavior: Inferring
Causality Using Quasi-Experimental Designs. University of Massachussets. Retrieved
from http://people.cs.umass.edu/~ramesh/Site/HOME_files/imc208-krishnan.pdf