Network Neutrality Nuances By Barbara Van Schewick: Article Analysis

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In Network Neutrality Nuances, Barbara van Schewick argues her stance on network neutrality, and how without it we would be under the relentless abuse of our ISPs. By utilizing a multitude of examples and propositions, she manages to engross the reader in a series of possibilities of what could occur without network neutrality, and how it acts as a measure against discrimination Barbara starts off her point of view by firmly introducing us into net neutrality, and how it is basically the wall that stops a digital divide. Focusing on 3 subjects in specific, the piece introduces the reader to why we should worry about network neutrality, the incentives ISPs have to do it and why arguments against net neutrality are invalid. Barbara very convincingly writes towards the daily activist and internet user; however her examples of arguments against net neutrality are weak, due to the limited point of view conducted by her biased opinion and she makes a lot of inductive assumptions to support her opinion. Barbara does an excellent job of expressing her opinion through quantitative research. Upon reading the article you’re flooded with a concrete knowledge of what “Internet Access” is and how it is going to change and what the purpose of net neutrality is. She gives real world examples of how ISPs abuse their power: Comcast throttling access to Vuze and BitTorrent, Telus blocking access to the Worker’s Union site, and Verizon rejecting an abortions right group the ability to send text messages over Verizon’s wireless network. With a thorough explanation of what incentives these companies have and how they benefit from performing such actions. For example, the partnership AT&T and Verizon have with Yahoo, in order to get rid of competition they may boost speeds or throttle where needed. This will cause consumers to think that the alternative company is poorly managed and slow, thus affecting the market and creating a unfair market gap. However, she uses a lot of assumptions, she assumes that ISP’s are irrational by backing her …show more content…
She makes a few rebuttals that those against net neutrality would make, and then proceeds to argue them. This is a great strategy to arguing a point of view normally, however in this case they are simply not thorough enough and weak. In one of her points she states, “while increasing competition is good for other reasons, it is not a substitute for a robust network neutrality regime.”(Van Schewick) Barbara proves that she is fully aware of the fact that, if censorship occurs consumers will in turn switch towards other ISPs, however she then makes the assumption that switching takes significant time, thus assuming that the average person is lazy and does not want to take initiative and action. However the fact is, that some consumers will take initiative and many activists will push and campaign, similar to what occurred to Nike when the scandal of sweatshops in china broke out, thus change was mandatory for the company to stay alive. Otherwise shareholders, creditors, and consumers will leave for a different company.
Barbara, definitely knows many of the big points within the subject regarding network neutrality, and she manages to convince the average reader by shrouding the lack of quality in her points with per quantity. Her view of the topic is incredibly biased, thus weakening the analysis and conceptual skills in the piece. However, I still believe it is a good piece for

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