Academics’ letter supporting net neutrality is misguided and misleading

[Commentary] On July 21, yet another interest group weighed in on the network neutrality debate: academics. In a letter organized by Stanford’s Barbara van Schewick, the 126 signatories, described by van Schewick as “leading” academics, claimed that the European Union net neutrality law, unless amended through guidelines from the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communication (BEREC), will frustrate academics’ “ability to research, collaborate, and educate.” Given the seriousness of this assertion, TechPolicyDaily.com investigated the substance behind the claims.

Of all the inconsistencies this letter represents, the most important is these academics’ failure to support policy with research and academic evidence. It appears that in a clicktivist world, it is enough for academics to lend their name and university affiliation to an effort without having to deliver any substance. Moreover, policymakers appear to believe that an academic stamp of approval — any name, as long as it is attached to an academic title — is sufficient representation for the entire community. Such practices are a disservice to universities, bona fide academics, and anyone who expects telecom regulators to make decisions based on substantive evidence.

[Roslyn Layton is a PhD Fellow at the Center for Communication, Media, and Information Technologies (CMI) at Aalborg University in Copenhagen, Denmark.]