Network Neutrality as Governance Seam

This essay explores how network neutrality leverages friction-in-design of the Internet’s layered architecture to constrain the ability of network providers to exercise control over user activities, otherwise enabled by their privileged view of traffic flowing across the network. Understanding network neutrality as a “governance seam” not only adds clarity to the ongoing debates about network neutrality by revisiting and affirming its reinforcing purpose, but also reveals how friction-in-d