All Article Summaries

Net neutrality law limits Internet Service Providers’ (ISPs) control of Internet uses and users. Federal net neutrality rules were repealed, but states should be able to enact their own net neutrality rules.

In 2017, the Federal Communications Commission announced plans to repeal net neutrality rules. Net neutrality rules are well established and popular.

T-Mobile’s “Binge On” plan allows customers to stream some video providers without using up their data plan cap. The FCC will assess whether the plan violates net neutrality rules. “Binge On” favors some providers and services over others, limiting choice, innovation, and competition.

Net neutrality rules stop Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from blocking online content; nondiscrimination rules limit interference short of blocking. Nondiscrimination rules should ban discrimination against specific applications and broad categories of applications.

In the United States, the public supports network neutrality, the principle that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) should not control online content and services. Allowing ISPs to block startups discourages investment. Europe adopted neutrality rules when ISPs began to stifle innovation.

The author argues that a rule banning application-specific discrimination is the best solution for network neutrality.

This book analyzes the architecture of the internet, how it fosters innovation, and what that suggests for the future.