Network Neutrality

Legal rulings regarding the Internet directly impact consumers, established carriers, and startups alike. In fact, frequently it’s startup companies that develop innovative services and often offer them at low or no cost over a carrier’s mobile and wireline broadband infrastructure.

Network neutrality is the concept of broadband providers treating all traffic equally. It applies to people’s ability to access the content they choose from wired as well as mobile devices. The following are the basic tenets of network neutrality.

• Treat all users’ traffic in an equal manner.

• Prohibit blocking content from any provider.

• Prohibit blocking access to any content or service.

The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has enacted network neutrality rules for wireline and mobile companies.