The 2015 Open Internet Order establishes clear net neutrality rules that are reasonable and necessary. It sets bright-line rules banning blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization. The rules apply to internet service providers and promote transparency while allowing reasonable network management. The Order is narrowly tailored and forbears many utility regulations for ISPs. These rules are necessary because ISPs have the incentive and ability to threaten the open internet and innovation, and they have taken actions in the past such as blocking competing services or lying about throttling plans.
Net Neutrality: In Support of the 2015 Open Internet Order
1.
2. The 2015 Open Internet
Order
Clear
Reasonable
Necessary
3. The Open Internet Order is
Clear
Clarity is necessary
The Open Internet Order provides
clear, bright-line rules
4. The Open Internet Order is
Clear
1) No blocking
2) No throttling
3) No paid prioritization
4) No unreasonable
interference/disadvantages
5) Enhanced transparency
5. The Open Internet Order is
Clear
Applies to mass-market internet
service providers
Allows for reasonable network
management
Exempts “specialized services”
6. The Open Internet Order
is Reasonable
Purpose – maintain and promote an
open internet as a “virtuous cycle of
innovation”
Rules are narrowly tailored
Innovation in specialized services
promoted
7. The Open Internet Order
is Reasonable
Forbearance of many Title II
regulations
Wireless given greater leeway
Waivers available for essentially
everything
8. The Open Internet Order
is Reasonable
Public interest-based zero rating
9. The Open Internet Order
is Necessary
ISPs are in a position to be a direct
threat to “virtuous cycle of
innovation”
They have the incentive
10. The Open Internet Order
is Necessary
ISPs are in a position to be a direct
threat to “virtuous cycle of
innovation”
They have the ability
11. The Open Internet Order
is Necessary
ISPs are in a position to be a direct
threat to “virtuous cycle of
innovation”
They have a terrible track record
12. The Open Internet Order
is Necessary
ISPs have:
• Banned wi-fi networks, VPNs, and
home networking
• Threatened criminal action against
anyone using for commercial purpose
• Blocked competing VoIP (wire line and
wireless)
• Interfered with peer-to-peer
networking (and lied about it)
13. The Open Internet Order
is Necessary
ISPs have:
• Exempted their own services from
caps applicable to competing services
• Throttled unlimited data plans (and
lied about it)
• Blocked smartphone tethering
• Blocked Apple’s FaceTime app
• Blocked Google Wallet (then released
their own version
15. The Open Internet Order
is Necessary
Increased horizontal integration has
reduced user choice
Increased vertical integration has
increased opportunity to unjustly
benefit
16. The Open Internet Order
is Necessary
Tech Innovators who support Net
Neutrality: