Net Neutrality: the new buzzword in telecoms?
“Neutrality” has come up in frequency spectrum allocation where regulators frequently refer to allocating technology-neutral spectrum – mixing VSAT with WiMAX, LTE and whatever technology may come along.
The operator may choose the technology its wants to deploy. It certainly has some merit although VSAT operators do not think so. In some African countries they are already experiencing interference problems from WiMAX operations. Then there is still the question of guard bands. It thus appears that technology-neutral frequency spectrum allocation is more complex than just referring to neutrality.
Lately there is new neutrality around – net neutrality – a debate sparked by Julius Genachowski, head of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) .
Genachowski recently outlined proposals aimed at preventing US internet service providers (ISPs) from discriminating against certain web content and applications. Genachowski said that ensuring an open internet is the best way to foster innovation.
“Broadband providers cannot discriminate against particular internet content or applications nor can they disfavour an internet service just because it competes with a similar service offered by that broadband provider.”
The broadband debate started some years back when the US government ruled on the price of broadband. The result was disastrous. Within a short period broadband providers cut back on expansion and soon the US was falling behind Europe and the East. This started a flurry of new legislation to encourage the broadband providers to build new networks and provide broadband at a cost that would sustain their viability.
This time the FCC is getting involved in telling broadband providers how to run their businesses.
“The internet must continue to allow users to decide what content and applications succeed,” said Genachowski. He was nominated as chairman of the FCC in March and took on his new role in June. He also said that operators should not be allowed to prevent users from connecting “non-harmful devices” to the internet. He also hinted that mobile networks should be subject to the same rules.
“Even though each form of internet access has unique technical characteristics, they are all different roads to the same place. It is essential that the internet itself remains open, however users reach it.”
Gigi Sohn, president of Public Knowledge, a Washington-based consumer advocacy group said that it is a very welcome development and years overdue. “The internet was created and grew up under strict non-discrimination rules. Those same ideas are as valuable today as they were ten years ago,” he said.
Genachowski also recommended that broadband providers be transparent about their network traffic management practices.
In July the FCC ruled that cable provider Comcast was guilty of breaching its open internet access principles when it took measures to block file-sharing traffic on its network. The FCC said that providers of broadband internet access must be transparent about their network management practices.
“Today, broadband providers have the technical ability to change how the internet works for millions of users – with profound consequences,” said Genachowski. “However, net neutrality rules should not apply to illegal content, services and applications, particularly illegal file-sharing of copyrighted material.”
The case of Comcast is in fact no different to the capping practice in South Africa, Comcast prevented file sharing to protect its other customers who would be impacted by those who were sharing huge amounts of data. There are many critics of the capping system and justifiably so. To limit one to a 3 or 5 Gb monthly cap certainly restricts use of the social networks and video sharing, not to mention participation in Second Life.
Maybe net neutrality could also mean doing away with restrictive capping!
EngineerIT
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