[Chapter-delegates] Should ISOC support Net Neutrality in the U.S.?

[Narelle]

On Fri, 7 Jul 2017, 18:39 Dave Burstein <daveb at dslprime.com> wrote:

>
> ISOC hasn't signed and as the *Wall Street Journal* reported until
> recently opposed Neutrality. I'm glad we've changed our official position.
>

And

> Several of our senior policy people in the past have argued against
> neutrality or taken a position that would have a similar effect. My take is
> it isn't worth tearing the organization apart. What we do on this will have
> little impact because so many others are taking a role.
>


This isn't the  way I read the ISOC stance at all.

See: https://www.internetsociety.org/policybriefs/networkneutrality  for
one of several papers.

The previous lot of US rulings (IIRC) focused on bringing internet services
in under telephony legislation. This isn't necessarily what US citizens
want. The impact of treating the internet like classical telephony means a
significant set of changes to the whole approach to internet resource
management.

I don't think that's what we want.

It may also be irritating to non US citizens that a legislation change
there is supposed to represent a global crisis.

I would rather see some good analysis on this from ISOC. And comparisons
and tools for the various approaches around the world.

Last week I called for greater transparency in traffic management at an
Australian regulatory forum. We know it's out there but it isn't in the
public domain.

There are places where prioritisation is appropriate and improves overall
performance.  Where it is used to tip the balance against third party
services or block access to sites and services for anticompetitive
commercial gain it's a misuse of market power. That's where reporting and
regulators must be able to intervene.


The cartel-like prices for Internet transit/backhaul, so high they often
> add something like $10 to the monthly price for a  decent connection.
> That's a huge factor in keeping costs high. (In the developed world, it's
> about $1/month.) ISOC can find this data.
>


You should try covering the cost across the Pacific. That's been a one way
charging system for much of history.

>
ISOC has made a massive impact with its IX work. And continues to so
deserves credit for that.

For sure, other areas of changing the economics would be good. Happy to
support that.


Cheers


Narelle



>
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