Ofcom Watch book corner: Marsden on Net Neutrality

OfcomWatch friend Chris Marsden has just announced that you can download his recent book Net Neutrality.  If you read his blog you will see that Chris follows this area like no one else.  It’s on my beach reading list for later in the month.

Click here to download the 320-page pdf file.  The book is a free download, with these CC freedoms and restrictions.  You can purchase the hardback version from Bloomsbury or by contacting Chris directly.

Abstract:

Net Neutrality is a very heated and contested policy principle regarding access for content providers to the Internet end-user, and potential discrimination in that access where the end- user’s ISP (or another ISP) blocks that access in part or whole. The suggestion has been that the problem can be resolved by either introducing greater competition, or closely policing conditions for vertically integrated service, such as VOIP.

However, that is not the whole story, and ISPs as a whole have incentives to discriminate between content for matters such as network management of spam, to secure and maintain customer experience at current levels, and for economic benefit from new Quality of Service standards. This includes offering a ‘priority lane’ on the network for premium content types such as video and voice service. The author considers market developments and policy responses in Europe and the United States, draws conclusions and proposes regulatory recommendations.