Spring 2012, Volume 3, Number 2

We’re dealing with the world of technology this issue; in particular, a thorny issue that continuously rears its head—network neutrality. There is a lot of divisiveness around this issue—between the U.S. and EU regulatory approaches, between operators and legislators, between those who long for the original purity of the internet and those who forecast where […]

Joseph Murphy, Mar 29, 2012 The DG Comp posting speaks about ignorance not being a defense. But ignorance is not and never was the issue. It is the reality that organizations are not individuals, and that there is no means known to humans to control the conduct of every individual, every day, in any large […]

Kevin Coates, Mar 30, 2012 The concern underlying the network neutrality debate is that owners of consumer broadband data networks-initially wired networks, but now also wireless networks-might discriminate against, or between, particular types of content or particular content providers. The debate is often confused by proponents and opponents of network neutrality talking about rather different […]

Frank Maier-Rigaud, Mar 30, 2012 The internet traffic prioritization, traffic management, or network neutrality debate (however it is labeled) fundamentally centers on the question of how packet inspection technology can be used and, more specifically, if data packet inspection should be used to differentiate price and or quality. As most ISPs operate based on flat-rate […]

Timothy Brennan, Mar 29, 2012 U.S. telecommunications regulation has long been characterized by contentious disputes. Pricing, subsidies, and legal authority to regulate have certainly been prominent, but one other theme has been prominent if not dominant: rights of access to incumbent networks. Past disputes of this sort led to a series of separation rules that, […]

Gerald Faulhaber, Mar 29, 2012 Since net neutrality first appeared in policy debates, its meaning has been less than crystal clear. Some advocates have argued that net neutrality demands that broadband internet service providers (“ISPs”) treat all bits equally: “a bit is a bit is a bit,” while others make exceptions for malware bits, spam […]

Jan Kramer, Christof Weinhardt, Lukas Wiewiorra, Mar 29, 2012 The Net Neutrality (“NN”) movement essentially believes that the traditions of the internet ecosystem should not be altered. The NN debate originated in the United States, and particularly gained momentum after it became public that large Internet Service Providers (“ISPs”) overtly or covertly tried to change […]

Stefano Grassani, Mar 29, 2012 As of January 2013, what is known as probably the world heftiest merger control filing fee structure will be abolished. As a matter of fact, further to an ancillary addition to the so-called “Deregulation Decree”-sponsored by Prime Minister Mario Monti and passed by the Italian Parliament on March 22, 2012-Italy […]