Net Neutrality

Catalog description

An open and affordable internet is critical to our economy, democracy, and our country's promise of equal opportunity. After the pandemic, everyone agrees on that. How we get there is the hard part. That's what the debate over net neutrality is all about. This class will examine the policy issues, legal frameworks, and key court decisions that shape this crucial debate. At its heart, net neutrality is the idea that we, the people who use the Internet, should be able to decide what we do online. We get to choose what sites to visit, what apps to use, and what videos to watch. Companies like Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T that we pay to get online don't get to influence our choices. The policy and legal fights over net neutrality have been going on for nearly two decades, both in the U.S. and internationally. In 2015, the debate captured U.S. public attention, leading to strong FCC protections and oversight. But in 2017, the FCC eliminated all protections. That set off fights in Congress, the courts, and the states. The FCC is now widely expected to restore net neutrality protections, and there's a strong chance that will happen during Winter quarter (which would be awesome timing). Through lectures, class discussions, and guest speakers, the class will introduce students to the key questions underlying the net neutrality debate so that they can become informed participants. Do we need net neutrality rules, and, if yes, what should they be? What are the options for addressing net neutrality at the FCC, in Congress, and by states? How do court decisions constrain states and the FCC? What effect will the Supreme Court's recent rulings and upcoming cases on the major questions doctrine and Chevron deference have on the FCC's ability to restore net neutrality protections or reclassify broadband as a telecom service? Who should take this class: Anyone who uses the internet.…