theshiftingstacks

The FCC drafted rules for net neutrality and openned the document up for public discussion this past week.  Read more about it in an Ars Technica article.  The draft document can be found on the FCC website along with the statements of the chairpersons.  

Ars Technica points out that the guideline for network management, "other reasonable network management practices," potentially undermines the net neutrality rules.  Other pieces of vague language populate the document, leaving wingle room for both the telecommunications companies as well as the FCC.  In effect, the draft ruling is a living document and over time will change as issues arise.

The FCC's new rules are good news for libraries, as libraries increasingly become content providers.  Otherwise, a network environment where preference is given to for-profit consumer services, libraries might end up on the short end of the list.  A few services libraries offer come to mind that preferential treatment could effect; digital libraries, Skype reference (see Comcast vs FCC VoIP), how-to tutorials, etc.  Let alone downloading articles from a electronic resource.  At least for now the FCC is fettering ISP "network management" while the details of network neutrality are resolved.

 

Below is a list of the six principles of net neutrality set forth in the FCC document.  Number 5 and and 6 are additions to the list.  Again, the draft document can be found on the FCC website

1. Subject to reasonable network management, a provider of broadband Internet access service may not prevent any of its users from sending or receiving the lawful content of the user’s choice over the Internet.
2. Subject to reasonable network management, a provider of broadband Internet access service may not prevent any of its users from running the lawful applications or using the lawful services of the user’s choice.
3. Subject to reasonable network management, a provider of broadband Internet access service may not prevent any of its users from connecting to and using on its network the user’s choice of lawful devices that do not harm the network.
4. Subject to reasonable network management, a provider of broadband Internet access service may not deprive any of its users of the user’s entitlement to competition among network providers, application providers, service providers, and content providers.
5. Subject to reasonable network management, a provider of broadband Internet access service must treat lawful content, applications, and services in a nondiscriminatory manner.
6. Subject to reasonable network management, a provider of broadband Internet access service must disclose such information concerning network management and other practices as is reasonably required for users and content, application, and service providers to enjoy the protections specified in this part.