[discuss] Network neutrality language [wascFINAL VERSION OF THE DOCUMENT - FOR PRINTING]

[Barry Shein]

It's the weekend somewhere, right? Some ramblings...

Part I

This crowd really is largely a monoculture, or small variance anyhow.

For example, I know there are huge multinational corporations fighting
against having network neutrality imposed on them, no?

And I think it's safe to say that the US Chair of the FCC Tom Wheeler
is more aligned with them than most people here having spent 20+ years
as a CATV lobbyist. As one example.

Where are they or their representatives?

Are they just so powerful and beyond reach that they can't be bothered
with any of this?

There exist not completely crazy arguments against any enforced
network neutrality. Sure, they mostly boil down to making money but
that's not quite an evil a priori.

Someone has to pay for the billions in infrastructure this group
claims to have some sort of say over. Maybe their arguments make some
sense, or an economist could make some sense out of them.

Or maybe not.

Part II

Personally I sometimes wonder if it's really network neutrality as
generally described -- definitions are another rathole -- or something
else which perhaps is extrapolated from network neutrality? And if so
then maybe that needs to be focused?

For example is it the idea that Comcast (one multi-billion dollar
corp) wants to charge Netflix (another multi-billion dollar corp) with
something akin to settlement fees for access to their last-mile
customers? I realize there are other examples.

Or is it that I should be worried that first Netflix and next, well,
this list, or every hobby site. The old slippery slope argument?

Part III

More importantly is this a multi-stakeholder governance effort, or an
advocacy effort?

Sure, some things are a priori bad, cybercrime for example, and don't
need a seat at the table. But does network neutrality really fit that
pattern?


-- 
        -Barry Shein

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