The Telecommunications Act.

Network Neutrality (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality) is an issue that was largely decided by the FCC. However, the debate on this issue continues, with individual states passing their own legislation. It is an issue that is pitting some of the big name companies in telecommunications and internet services against each other and has the potential to impact startup companies using the Internet. We will see this issue again in the November 2018, and 2020 elections.

Read the wikipedia entry on Network Neutrality (posted in blackboard as well) and watch the videos on blackboard regarding arguments for Network Neutrality, and arguments against Network Neutrality. You should do some additional research on this topic as well. Once you have done your research and reached a conclusion about your opinion on this topic, write a two-page (500 words MAX) essay explaining your opinion and reasons why others should reach the same conclusion. Write the text as if you were writing a letter to an editor or a public opinion article. Put your best argument forward!

You don’t need to provide a list of references, although you should make references to the original source in the text. For example:

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 deregulated the telecommunications industry  providing billions in benefits – to bring broadband access to every corner of America. It was supposed to have a ripple effect on small business growth, education and community development….

You can also use direct quotes from authoritative

sources that you find:

1

“The money that’s made from manufacturing stuff is a pittance in comparison to the amount of money made from shuffling money around,” said Raymond Dalio of Bridge water Associates in 2004. “Forty-four percent of all corporate profits in the U.S. come from the financial sector, compared with only 10 percent from the manufacturing sector.”

You may include a call to action for your readers at the end, but it is not required.

Submit your essay on Canvas by 5pm. DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME ON THE LETTER OR ESSAY (So we can blindly grade) .

See the reverse side for grading rubric.

Assignment 1: Letter to the Editor, Network Neutrality

Course: 3300

Points: 50

An authoritative source is someone who has work experience or other knowledge in the particular area you are

1

discussing. For example, I would not quote my nephew on telecommunications law, but as an active gamer and

budding software developer, I might quote him about the need for high-speed connections for gaming.

Answer preview

Physical access through network traffics equally as harmful especially for information where opinion is a subject of limitation to time. I consider that the state and federal government are in the best position to define what filtering options need to be placed especially subject to the minors.

Net neutrality is in the best interest of the country. However am not ignorant that certain circumstances may demand the ISPs to collaborate with the lawmakers to ensure specific political and social values are upheld primarily through restricted access. The economic factors based on the commercial use of the internet would also matter to me as quality reflects on cost. However the parameters for determining what quality is is subject to manipulation, and the primary data source needs to decide how free data is and not the ISPs. I call to action for approval of net neutrality by all lawmakers as soon as possible.

[504 Words]