Network Neutrality or Internet Innovation?

9 Pages Posted: 12 Apr 2010 Last revised: 23 Dec 2013

See all articles by Christopher S. Yoo

Christopher S. Yoo

University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School; University of Pennsylvania - Annenberg School for Communication; University of Pennsylvania - School of Engineering and Applied Science

Date Written: April 1, 2010

Abstract

Over the past two decades, the Internet has undergone an extensive re-ordering of its topology that has resulted in increased variation in the price and quality of its services. Innovations such as private peering, multihoming, secondary peering, server farms, and content delivery networks have caused the Internet’s traditionally hierarchical architecture to be replaced by one that is more heterogeneous. Relatedly, network providers have begun to employ an increasingly varied array of business arrangements and pricing. This variation has been interpreted by some as network providers attempting to promote their self interest at the expense of the public. In fact, these changes reflect network providers’ attempts to reduce cost, manage congestion, and maintain quality of service. Current policy proposals to constrain this variation risk harming these beneficial developments.

Keywords: Network Neutrality, Private Peering, Multihoming, Secondary Peering, Paid Peering, Partial Transit, Server Farms, Content Delivery Networks, Peer-to-Peer, Client-Server, Two-Sided Markets

JEL Classification: D40, K23, O31

Suggested Citation

Yoo, Christopher S., Network Neutrality or Internet Innovation? (April 1, 2010). Regulation, Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 22-29, Spring 2010, U of Penn Inst. for Law & Econ Research Paper No. 10-06, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1585269

Christopher S. Yoo (Contact Author)

University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School ( email )

3501 Sansom St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6204
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(215) 746-8772 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.upenn.edu/faculty/csyoo/

University of Pennsylvania - Annenberg School for Communication ( email )

3620 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6220
United States
(215) 746-8772 (Phone)

University of Pennsylvania - School of Engineering and Applied Science ( email )

3330 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6309
United States
(215) 746-8772 (Phone)

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