Notes

Net Neutrality Matters

In a disappointing move that lacks both insight and foresight Ed Vaizey, the UK Coalition Government’s Minister for Communication, Culture and the Creative Industries (and Member of Parliament for Wantage and Didcot), has stated that UK ISPs should be allowed to abandon the principle of net neutrality and prioritise users’ access to certain content providers.

In a telecoms conference hosted by the Financial Times in London, Vaizey stated:

ISPs should be free to favour one content provider over another as long as they inform customers in order to manage internet traffic.

Worrying words indeed and some might say the first step in a process that could see long-held principles of open access and freedom of (and to) information challenged.

The issue of net neutrality - that there should be no favouritism when connecting to certain sites online - is an important one, indeed, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the world wide web wrote about it recently, stressing that the internet must remain neutral.

Net neutrality is one of the founding principles of the web, where the free and open sharing of information, accessible to all on a level playing field, has driven both innovation and growth. The danger of allowing certain companies to pay a premium for their content to be delivered faster than rivals is that we will soon inherit a two tier web that inhibits innovation and erodes the principle of freedom of speech.

A more informed opinion on net neutrality was expressed recently by Erik Huggers, the BBC director of Future Media and Technology, who eloquently stated the BBC’s position as follows:

An emerging trend towards network operators discriminating in favour of certain traffic based on who provides it, as part of commercial arrangements, is a worrying development.

Why? For companies that can pay for prioritisation, their traffic will go in a special fast lane. But for those that don’t pay? Or can’t pay? By implication, their traffic will be de-prioritised and placed in the slow lane. Discriminating against traffic in this way would distort competition to the detriment of the public and the UK’s creative economy.

The founding principle of the internet is that everyone - from individuals to global companies - has equal access. This innovative and dynamic ecosystem, that enables huge public value, could be put at risk if network operators are allowed to use traffic management to become gatekeepers to the internet.

Huggers’ article is well worth reading in full, for a balanced and persuasive view on the importance of net neutrality and the dangers inherent in allowing ISPs and network operators to become ‘gatekeepers to the internet’.

Mr Vaizey’s announcement is worrying and has the potential to stifle innovation and growth in what has always primarily been an open medium. Should you live in the UK, we would urge you to contact your Member of Parliament and express your concern.

1290032820 · Christopher Murphy · Follow Us on Twitter

Notes

Net Neutrality Matters

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