Basics Of Net Neutrality

The news has been buzzing with issues regarding preserving Net Neutrality, but what is it exactly? Here are some of the basics one need to know....

Net Neutrality is the principle that says Internet service providers (ISPs) and governments should treat all internet traffic equally not discriminating or charging differentially by the user, content, platform, site, type of attached equipment or mode of communication. In technical terms network neutrality is the adherence to the paradigm that operation of a service at a certain layer is not influenced by any data other than the data interpreted at that layer, and in accordance with the protocol specification for that layer.

In short, it is the principle, which states that the company connecting you to the internet cannot get the control what you do on the internet. With this, innovators can develop any kind of products and services without asking for permission.

Principles related to Net Neutrality

Open Internet

Open internet preserves our right to communicate freely online. Just as your phone company shouldn’t decide who you can call and what you say on that call, your ISP shouldn’t be concerned with the content you view or post online.

Dumb Pipe

Dumb pipe refers to the operator’s network that is being used as a medium to transfer bytes between the customers’ device and the internet. Also, it is the inability of the operator to restrict services and simply provides network speed and bandwidth.

End-To-End Principle

It is a computer networking designing principle and its application-specific features reside in the communicating end nodes of the network, rather than intermediary nodes such as gateways and routers that are necessary to build the network.

Traffic Shaping

Also known as packet shaping, it is the process of managing, controlling and prioritizing the network traffic to reduce the impact of heavy users from affecting other users. And, this is achieved by delaying the flow of certain packets and prioritizing business-critical over non-critical traffic.

Over-Provisioning

A form of statistical multiplexing, Over Positioning makes liberal estimates of peak user demand. If the core of the network has more bandwidth then the good quality of service can be obtained without policing.

Net Neutrality In India         

On 8th Feb 2016, TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority Of India) banned differential pricing of data services prohibiting service providers from offering or charging discriminatory tariffs for data services on the basis of content. However, TRAI does not prescribe a blanket ban on differential pricing and provides an exception in case of an emergency or for providing emergency services. According to the regulator, this ruling doesn’t mean the end of net neutrality debate as it has promised to keep a close view on the developments in the market and may undertake a review in a year or two, as it deems fit.

In March 2015, in order to know public opinion, TRAI released a formal consultation paper for over-the-top services. By 24^th April 2015, TRAI received over a million e-mails demanding net neutrality.

Some recent facts related to Net Neutrality:

On June 14, 2016, A federal court of appeals fully upholds the FCC’s strong net neutrality rule, recognizing that an open internet is essential for innovation and economic growth.

On February 26, 2015, The FCC votes in favour of strong net neutrality rules to keep the internet open and free.

On January 15, 2014, A user creates a petition on the White House's We the People platform, petitioning the Obama administration to "Restore Net Neutrality By Directing the FCC to Classify Internet Providers as 'Common Carriers'." The petition went on to be signed by 105,572 users.

Net Neutrality provides fast, fair and open internet for all without biasing. It also provides freedom  

• of speech 
• to create competition
•  to access the info you want

As ISPs and D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals are against it, on the other hand, FCC is in its favor. So, it's you, using the internet, who have to take a stance either in its favor or against it.

Sources:

§  http://www.visualistan.com/2014/07/what-every-internet-user-needs-to-know-about-net-neutrality.html

§  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality