April 30, 2007 NYC network neutrality hearing

Network Neutrality

Prof. Henning Schulzrinne

Dept. of Computer Science

Columbia University

April 30, 2007 NYC network neutrality hearing

How to be non-neutral

• Block web sites (“IP addresses”)• Block ports = specific applications• Underprovision general Internet access

– artificially delay or drop certain packets

• Reserving bandwidth on fiber for carrier

April 30, 2007 NYC network neutrality hearing

Not just web access

• New applications: video access, VoIP, video conferencing, ...– ensure competition in services

• much more likely than shutting off a PhoneCompanySucks web site or charging Google

• otherwise, only telco/CATV provider can provide HDTV video-on-demand or streaming video

– Internet technology allows separation of bit carriage and services

• May need quality of service guarantees• Example: Madison River (2005)

– but, so far, few in the US

April 30, 2007 NYC network neutrality hearing

The role of competition

• Assumption of competition and information• Not generally true:

– monopoly or, at best, duopoly– high switch-over costs (equipment costs, minimum contract

durations, email addresses, ...)– no service information for consumers

• ports blocked?

• bandwidth caps?

• actual speeds (“up to X Mb/s” is not useful)

April 30, 2007 NYC network neutrality hearing

Guidelines for content neutrality

• Nothing new: old common carrier notion• Content neutrality

– no differentiation by destination or traffic type (except attacks or spam)

– bandwidth-based traffic shaping and metering, if necessary

• Consumer information to allow informed choice• Long term: separation of infrastructure and service

– last-mile fiber, conduits and air waves are natural monopolies

• Long term: competition through public infrastructure

April 30, 2007 NYC network neutrality hearing

Quality of service and network neutrality

• Argument: QoS requires violating network neutrality• Not necessarily:

– can provide content neutral mechanisms– e.g., monthly quota for prioritized traffic– charge extra for high priority traffic, regardless of source or

destination