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A new direction for the net neutrality debate

Author

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  • Glass, Victor
  • Tardiff, Timothy

Abstract

In recent years, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has become a microcosm of the political battles in Congress. The Democratic-controlled Wheeler Commission entitled its Net Neutrality Order “Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet.” Not to be outdone, the Republican-controlled Pai Commission that overturned that Order entitled its own “Restoring `Internet Freedom.” And like Congressional pronouncements, Commissioners look to grab headlines with dramatic statements of impending doom if their policies are not enacted. We show that the untold societal damage that both sides claim have relatively little to no factual support. Outmoded distinctions between information and telecommunications services exacerbate the situation because a good deal of regulatory history is built on them. As a potential way forward toward reliance on theoretically-sound, evidence-based decision-making, the authors recommend moving away from the silo mentality of focusing on whether particular services are information services or telecommunications services (e.g., Broadband Internet Access Service (BIAS)) toward a focus on packet transmission across broadband networks. Such an approach would facilitate fresh perspectives with the objective of more collaborative, less confrontational regulatory decision-making.

Suggested Citation

  • Glass, Victor & Tardiff, Timothy, 2019. "A new direction for the net neutrality debate," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(3), pages 199-212.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:43:y:2019:i:3:p:199-212
    DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2018.05.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hazlett Thomas W. & Caliskan Anil, 2008. "Natural Experiments in U.S. Broadband Regulation," Review of Network Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 7(4), pages 1-21, December.
    2. repec:reg:rpubli:433 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Kahn Alfred E., 2008. "Reflections of an Unwitting 'Political Entrepreneur'," Review of Network Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 7(4), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Timothy J. Tardiff, 2015. "Net Neutrality: Economic Evaluation Of Market Developments," Journal of Competition Law and Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 11(3), pages 701-725.
    5. Thomas W. Hazlett & Joshua D. Wright, 2017. "The Effect of Regulation on Broadband Markets: Evaluating the Empirical Evidence in the FCC’s 2015 “Open Internet” Order," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 50(4), pages 487-507, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. David S. Barreto & Rafael F. Reale & Joberto S. B. Martins, 2021. "Modeling and accomplishing the BEREC network neutrality policy," International Journal of Network Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), July.

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