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Argument: Net neutrality allows some sites to hog bandwidth

Issue Report: Network neutrality

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“Editorial: Net neutrality not so neutral.” OC Register. September 25th, 2009: “One difficulty with government guaranteeing entitlements at the expense of others is the problem of those who abuse the free ride. Bandwidth-hogging services such as person-to-person file sharing and downloadable video from sites like YouTube and Google strain network capacities. Broadband providers legitimately claim they have a right to regulate such traffic over their networks, which may mean giving priority to their own services or charging varying rates. […] That’s why large bandwidth providers such as Verizon and AT&T have opposed previous ‘net neutrality’ proposals. Their networks would be abused. And that’s why operations like Google want net neutrality mandated by federal regulations. They could offer services without sharing the whole cost to provide them over broadband networks.”

“The FCC’s Heavy Hand.” Washington Post Editorial. September 28th, 2009: “Aptly dubbed an “immodest proposal” by the Free State Foundation’s Randolph J. May, the FCC would prohibit ISPs from “discriminating against” different applications. Mr. Genachowski explains it this way: ISPs “cannot block or degrade lawful traffic over their networks, or pick winners by favoring some content or applications over others in the connection to subscribers’ homes.” In short, ISPs, which have poured billions of dollars into building infrastructure, would have little control — if any — over the kinds of information and technology flowing through their pipes.

In a slight concession, Mr. Genachowski said that the commission would consider whether to allow ISPs to offer “managed services in limited circumstances”; this approach could allow ISPs to create a two-track delivery system — one for routine traffic, the other for applications that use exorbitant amounts of bandwidth. But unneeded regulation could still interfere with their ability to manage bandwidth-hogging applications that can hamper service, especially during peak times.