QoS & Net Neutrality:
A Conflict of Interest?
March 15, 2006: 11:00 AM
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Network Operators today are utilizing Quality of Services (QoS) as a means of differentiation and price discrimination.  Taken to the Nth degree, one needs to ask if there REALLY a distinction between the "prioritization" and/or "discrimination" of certain types of Internet packets?  The Network Neutrality camp could argue that "allowing" providers to charge for prioritized / privileged access is extortion.

Point: Network Neutrality

Network Neutrality is the concept that network operators provide free and non-discriminatory transport on their networks between the endpoints of the Internet.  This has been a basic concept and function of the Internet since it was invented, and is adopted by the FCC in these four principles to ensure that broadband networks are widely deployed, open, affordable and accessible to all consumers:

1. Consumers are entitled to access the lawful Internet content of their choice;
2. Consumers are entitled to run applications and services of their choice, subject to the needs of law enforcement
3. Consumers are entitled to connect their choice of legal devices that do not harm the network; and
4. Consumers are entitled to competition among network providers, application and service providers, and content providers

Counterpoint:

"IMO, the worst thing that a network operator can do is to support these things.  The reason is that..."

Continue Reading the Operator Network Neutrality Debate