Dueling Network Buzzwords: 'Neutrality' Versus 'Diversity'

[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR:David Hatch]
Opponents of "network neutrality" introduced a new phrase into the telecommunications lexicon: "network diversity." Does it mean making sure the demographics of network users matches the population as a whole? Ah, no. Cable-funded Vanderbilt University law professor Christopher Yoo argues that operators of broadband networks should be allowed to "experiment" with varying network architectures. If the government does not interfere, he said, some broadband operators might choose net neutrality and others might offer "walled gardens" with proprietary content. Rather than being a troubling development, he said, exclusive content deals would "differentiate" high-speed networks and spur competition. With today's bandwidth-hungry Internet applications, such as telephony and video streaming, a quarter-second interruption can hurt the "commercial viability" of services, Professor Yoo said. Under network diversity, broadband operators could manage Internet traffic to ensure that demanding operations receive priority treatment. The FCC could respond to any harms to competitors, he explained, insisting that it is unfair to restrict network operators based on hypothetical problems.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-MBSE1139339451850.html

See also --

* Network Neutrality Counter-Point
[Commentary] Network neutrality is a pointless, emotionally-charged distraction from the real issues involved in monetizing Internet content. The Internet is rapidly becoming a retail and marketing vehicle, just as shopping malls and other retail chains. A sound distribution channel, with economic benefits and motiviations must be built which satisifes both the needs of telcos as well as those of content creators. This adversarial relationship between the storefronts and the product makers will kill us.
http://garywiz.typepad.com/trial_by_fire/2006/02/network_neutral.html

* The Nuclear Option for Network Neutrality: Eminent Domain
http://blobservations.net/dasblog/TheNuclearOptionForNetworkNeutralityEm...