(Student Group #4)

Net Neutrality, a Case Study.

Team Synergy (Student Group #4):
Sriram Vishwanath Z1750355
Ritu Sharma Z1680465
Srujan Yelavarthi Z1747171
Marianna Nikitina Z1720735

(Image courtesy Google Images)

Network Neutrality is the principle that all Internet traffic should be

treated equally. In other words, Net neutrality concerns whether, and on what
basis Internet traffic can be prioritized.
Origins
Net neutrality, surprisingly, emerged before the broadband era. . A survey
indicates that 9/10 people came across the term net neutrality only in
2013-2015. This study would help analyze the origins of the topic and why it
became a nation (and international) phenomenon.
Todays internet is marked by exploding traffic on wireline and wireless
networks and a shift in the balance of power from broadband providers to
those who dominate service provision. Most of the top players such as
Google, Facebook, Netflix, Microsoft, Apple have blurred the lines about the
providers of data, voice, and video and have captured regulatory attention.
(Quote Source - Consult Strand Publications)

Why should anyone care?

This study would appeal to a variety of audience groups since it affects or
impacts every one of us in one way or another. The internet is undoubtedly
shaping how we distribute and consume the news today. For example The
future of journalism is inextricably linked with the future of the Internet since
we have reached a point where newspapers are becoming obsolete. This is
one reason why net neutrality matters and everyone who seeks influence or
contribute to our shared culture should be worried. This could potentially
mean that companies could decide where its users can go for news and what
stories get buried online.

The Internet has become such an important tool for communications,

commerce, education and leisure, and has the power to accelerate inclusion
in the digital world for people across the globe. The stakes are much higher
than just whether it takes a few extra minutes to load Orange Is the New
Black on Netflix. The technology angle in the debate over net neutrality talks
about the approach to packet management, network management (VoLTE)
and priority coding.
There are so many more aspects to Net Neutrality. They can be economic,
technological and at some level, even human rights and freedom of speech.
The study would analyze all these aspects, impacts of net neutrality, give out
suggestions & recommendations and possibly some open ended questions
which could provide for an interactive and simulating discussion.
The project would be done in four stages. Survey, Analyze, Research and
Document.
Survey
A brief survey would be done by the team to understand the level of
knowledge over the topic so the case study could be molded accordingly.
Analyze
In-depth analysis on the topic covering all aspects of net neutrality. This will
include everything that should and shouldnt go in to the case study.
Research
The team will split into two groups (2 members each) and would read
up/research on the topic and make suggestions and improvising on it. We
would also group together twice every week (Tuesday and Thursday) to
discuss findings, progress and to make sure that each of us on the same
page.

Document
Creating the actual case study document which includes an in-depth
analysis, recommendations and suggestions. This document could also
include a presentation (can be in any form).
The case study would begin on 24th March and end before 15th April 2015.
The anticipated outcome would be a better understanding of the topic and
why each one of us should concerned about net neutrality and possible high
level impacts.
Net neutrality is so diverse in the sense that it means different things to
different people. Each of their perspectives on the topic could be influenced
by the study. This study would be thought provoking and challenge any preconditioned notions or ideas the reader may have. The study will also strip
down the politics behind net neutrality and would analyze what it would
mean to a common man. At the end of the study, the team is confident that
every reader would be impacted, would have a deeper understanding of the
topic and could provide a better perspective.

(Sources used - Huffington Post, IEEE.)