PolicyBlog

All in all, it's not too bad a text. The problem, though - which is the same problem we'll be seeing with any writ - boils down to reasonable network management practices. What one person would call reasonable, the other person would cry foul over. * Is it reasonable to block outgoing SMTP from consumer broadband netblocks? * Is it reasonable to block P2P applications on mobile networks? If no, is it still unreasonable if the user is on an á la carte data plan and might incur pretty hefty charges, sometimes without knowing that it's even happening. Anti competitive, or protecting the consumer? A strong case could be made either way. (Sure, user choice would be ideal, but let's face it, the default will be what most people use) * If a network can't handle a certain class of applications, is it reasonable to thwart them in order to protect the user experience for everyone else? * Is it reasonable to provide special treatment for popular applications - i.e is it OK to give World of Warcraft traffic prioritity on a congested link, or is that anti-competitive since you don't give every online game priority? * Is it reasonable to relegate bulk data transfers to a lower priority on a congested link, no matter what protocol they use? In many cases you could make a good technological case, a good business case and a good moral case *either way*. Tricky. Disclaimer: I work for a traffic management vendor, but write this on my own time.

Why did you shove Bing! down our throats then on all Blackberry devices? Why did you limit devices with WiFi for so long? Why did you cripple GPS functionality for so long? "Net Neutrality" doesn't just apply to "the internet" in terms of connectivity and content delivered over HTTP. Net Neutrality is complete open access to anything available over those channels. You're making deals in the dark to keep your revenue high, don't patronize your customers. And before the trolls start getting upset over the use of GPS in this argument, I'm talking about using third-party software that accesses maps via the internet that aren't made by VZW (Google Maps, etc).