Current Issues in Network Neutrality

Catalog description

Net neutrality means you get to decide what you do online: you get to choose what sites to visit, what apps to use, what videos to watch. It prevents companies like AT&T, Comcast, or T-Mobile that connect you to the internet from blocking, slowing down, or speeding up specific sites and apps, or from charging websites for access to their subscribers. Through readings, discussions, and guest speakers, this class explores current net neutrality controversies in the U.S. and around the world. We will discuss questions such as: 1. Your video is grainy even though you have a 5G plan. Is the network congested, or is your internet provider slowing video to push you toward a pricier plan? 2. Some plans let you stream Spotify without using your data, but your favorite podcast still counts against your cap. Is this helping people on tight budgets, or is your internet provider picking winners? Does it matter whether this happens in São Paulo or in San Francisco? 3. Your Netflix keeps buffering. League of Legends lags. Your internet provider blames Netflix and Riot Games. They claim the internet provider is deliberately creating bottlenecks to squeeze money out of them. Who is right? 4. 5G networks can slice internet traffic into fast lanes and slow lanes. Who should decide which apps get prioritized? Internet providers, the apps themselves, or you? You'll analyze competing arguments and develop your own position on whether and how these issues should be regulated. Open to law students and students from other departments. No technical background required. Students may complete several shorter written assignments (Section 01) or, with instructor consent, a single 18-page final research (R-credit) paper due at the Law School's final paper deadline (Section 02). Students accepted into the course may switch to the R-credit section (02) after the term begins, pending instructor…