A Primer on Network Neutrality

30 Pages Posted: 7 Nov 2007

See all articles by Rob Frieden

Rob Frieden

Pennsylvania State University - Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications; Pennsylvania State Law

Date Written: November 2007

Abstract

This paper will provide a straightforward explanation of what constitutes network neutrality and why a debate has arisen about whether governments need to establish rules mandating nondiscrimination. The paper will identify what types of price and quality of service discrimination represent legitimate efforts to diversify Internet-mediated services and to satisfy increasingly diverse requirements of content providers and consumers. The paper concludes that while many concerns about network neutrality overstate the potential for harm, ISPs should offer non-neutral services in a fully transparent manner so that regulators can distinguish between actual and induced network congestion as well as other potential harm to content providers and consumers.

Keywords: network neutrality, next generation networks, Internet, peering, interconnection

JEL Classification: K23, L82, L96

Suggested Citation

Frieden, Rob and Frieden, Rob, A Primer on Network Neutrality (November 2007). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1026633 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1026633

Rob Frieden (Contact Author)

Pennsylvania State Law

Lewis Katz Building
University Park, PA 16802
United States

HOME PAGE: http://https://pennstatelaw.psu.edu/faculty/frieden

Pennsylvania State University - Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications ( email )

University Park, PA 16802
United States
814-863-7996 (Phone)
814-863-8161 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/r/m/rmf5/

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