Arguments Against Net Neutrality (not my arguments!)

Below are 4 arguments that the "Phone Companies" are making in an "Anti-Net Neutrality" light. I am just sharing this to point out how truly illogical they are:

This came from an article written by John Windhausen Jr. and can be found at - publicknowledge.org

1) Network operators allege that Net Neutrality is a “solution in search of a problem” because there is only one documented case of blocking. In fact, network operators have already engaged in at least 8 known cases of blocking in the U.S. and are likely to block or interfere with more traffic in the future. Network operators have incentives to leverage their control over the network to reap additional profits in upstream markets.

2) Network operators allege that Net Neutrality will interfere with their ability to manage their networks, for instance, to prevent spam, viruses and congestion. In fact, there is no reason to believe that a simple non-discrimination policy should interfere with the operators’ network management responsibilities. Telephone companies have always managed their networks to protect against unlawful use even under a much more onerous common carriage regime.

3) Network operators allege that Net Neutrality will interfere with their ability to earn a return on their broadband investment and that it will stifle their deployment of broadband networks. In fact, Net Neutrality promotes broadband deployment because it increases the value of services and applications over the Internet, which increases consumer demand for broadband networks. The greater the demand, the more network operators will invest in broadband to meet it. Furthermore, there remain many opportunities for network operators to profit from their broadband investment that do not involve blocking or discrimination. For instance, network operators can continue to develop their own content and/or enter joint marketing arrangements or other promotional arrangements with other content providers.

4) Network operators maintain that Net Neutrality will prevent them from creating “tiers” of service, or a “private Internet.” In fact, Net Neutrality does not necessarily prevent network operators from offering levels of access, at higher rates, as long as the tier is offered on a nondiscriminatory basis to every provider and as long as all broadband customers are offered a minimum level of broadband service. A Net Neutrality principle does, however, prohibit the creation of a “private Internet” that grants exclusive access to the higher bandwidth levels to certain providers selected by the network operator.

Adam "voiploser" Uzelac