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U.S. Internet Access Policy

Dive into the historical context and current debates surrounding U.S. internet access policy, including the 1996 Act, net neutrality, and challenges in the non-competitive market. Explore suggestions for a fairer and more accessible internet landscape.

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U.S. Internet Access Policy

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  1. U.S. Internet Access Policy Susan Crawford Visiting Professor, Yale Law School Founder, OneWebDay (Sept. 22)

  2. Overview • Historical context • Internet and the 1996 Act • Net neutrality debate

  3. Historical context • Historically separate communications modalities • Telephone • Broadcast/radio • Cable • Computers/computer networks

  4. Internet and the 1996 Act • Status of the Internet as of 1996 • What is the “Internet”? • agreement to use a language • packet-switched • Most transport networks privately owned • Demand to treat access as “information service”

  5. Net neutrality debate • Stakes are high: convergence • No more necessary association between infrastructure and function • Question presented: in the current market for Internet access, should network providers be allowed to discriminate based on source/origin/content of packets?

  6. Protection for speech • Murky at best • “Common carriage” should perhaps apply to all general-purpose communications networks • “Internet” not same thing as pipes/wires • Extensive govt. intervention involved in birth of Internet • Abuse by network access providers possible

  7. Non-competitive market • Regional duopolies • Prices high, speeds low • Opportunity for discrimination • Inadequate access

  8. Suggestions • Nondiscrimination mandate • Infrastructure investment • Rewrite 1996 Act • Focus on communications policy generally • and OneWebDay, Sept. 22

  9. Thank you! scrawford@scrawford.net

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