Network neutrality is a principle of Internet regulation with particular relevance to the regulation of Broadband. It suggests that (1) to maximize Human welfare, information networks ought be as neutral as possible as between various uses or applications, and (2) if necessary, government ought intervene to promote or preserve the neutrality of the network. Underlying the theory of the benefits of network neutrality is a belief that a neutral network promotes Schumpterian, or evolutionary innovation of information technology.

Network neutrality arguments have antecedents in other concepts, such as common carrier regulation and the Computer Inquiries approach. The contemporary use of the phrase Network Neutrality began in the early 2000s. Some of the arguments associated with Network Neutrality came into prominence in the summer of 2002, pushed by a group named the High Tech Broadband Coalition comprised of developers for Amazon, Google and the Microsoft. Network neutrality arguments were also developed by legal academics, most prominently law professors Tim Wu and Lawrence Lessig as well as Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael K. Powell.

Proposals for network neutrality laws are generally opposed by the cable and telephone industries and conservative and libertarian scholars including Christopher Yoo and Adam Thierer. Opponents argue that (1) network neutrality principles are likely to become the basis for more intrusive regulation of the Internet, and (2) imposing such regulation will chill investment in competitive networks (e.g., wireless broadband) and deny networks providers the ability to differentiate their services.

Network neutrality had particular relevance to Voice over IP policy.

=See also=

*Open Access *Broadband *Internet

= External Links =

*[http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa507.pdf Cato Institute Paper on Network Neutrality] *[http://faculty.virginia.edu/timwu/wu_lessig_fcc.pdf Tim Wu & Lawrence Lessig Letter to the FCC] *[http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfmabstract_id=495502 Christopher Yoo Paper on Network Neutralty] *[http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfmabstract_id=388863 Tim Wu paper on Network Neutrality] *[http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-243556A1.pdf Michael Powell Speech] *[http://www.cybertelecom.org/ci/neutral.htm Cybertelecom :: Network Neutrality]