A Network Neutrality Meme That Will Not Go Away

[Commentary] Recently, arguments against network neutrality as a “solution in search of a problem” have resurfaced. People who make this argument essentially claim either 1) discrimination predicted by Public Knowledge (and the Federal Communications Commission) will never actually come to pass, or 2) discrimination can be benign or even beneficial. These arguments are not persuasive, especially in light of recent examples of discrimination by service providers.

Companies have already engaged in the exact behavior that created the need for an open Internet rule. Discrimination by Internet Service Providers could be seen in two lights: it could benefit consumers by providing Quality of Service when it is most needed and by more accurately meeting the demands of users; alternatively, it could be used as a way to stifle innovation, shut out competition, and harm users that rely on, or would benefit from, such innovation (the latter could be achieved intentionally or unintentionally and it does not matter—the harm is there regardless). By requiring a neutral Internet, the FCC decided that the benefits provided by enhanced Quality of Service et al. were outweighed by the benefits provided at the edges of the network by a truly open platform.