Network Neutrality Nuances: Article Analysis

In the article “Point/Counterpoint Network Neutrality Nuances”, Barbara van Schewick expresses the importance of net neutrality in ISPs. Van Schewick explains in the article, her opinion that the ability to access information should not be controlled by ISPs. To support her thesis, van Schewick presents examples of ISPs restricting the availability of services, and the consequences of these restrictions. She strongly emphasises the importance of net neutrality throughout the article, which helps her to make sure she is supporting her argument. By presenting her idea in a clear and focused manner, she is able to fully reach out to the readers and communicate her beliefs with her audience.
At the beginning of the article, the author explains net neutrality and how it connects to ISPs. ISPs have the technology to restrict access to certain parts of the internet (van Schewick, 2009). Net neutrality is the proposal of preventing ISPs from controlling the access to information on the internet (van Schewick, 2009). She presents the idea that internet providers are willing to block some contents of the internet, citing past examples of the interferences from ISPs. Furthermore, she shows the reasons why ISPs are controlling the access of contents, and the effect it will have on the users. Finally she makes the argument that the consumers …show more content…
She states that “In a world without network neutrality rules, ISPs determine which applications and content can become successful, distorting competition in the markets for applications and content.” (van Schewick, 2009). She is able to support her argument by explaining her beliefs of the effect of the limitation, which causes her article to have a better supporting body. When she talks about “These arguments neglect a number of factors that make competition less effective in disciplining discriminatory conduct than one might expect.” (van Schewick, 2009), this