Net Neutrality = Equal Service for Equal Pay

The subject of Net Neutrality got much well deserved attention this weekend during the Gnomedex presentations of John Edwards, Werner Vogels and Mike Arrington. Some of the discussion dealt with the difficulty of communicating the nature of the issue and it was suggested that "Net Discrimination" might be a better tag for the discussion. I think the idea was to follow the lead of the abortion debates and try to build terms that map to "Pro-Life" and "Pro-Choice". The idea seemed to catch on as various speakers and commenters at the conference began to use "Net Discrimination" in discussions. However, I think that while the intention was good, we can do better.

I would suggest that a much better way to clarify the issue would be modeled on the success of the Women's Movement's slogan: "Equal Pay for Equal Work." That phrase succinctly presents an argument so clear and simple that it has been terribly difficult for anyone to debate it. The "Net Neutrality" equivalent would be: "Equal Service for Equal Pay." i.e. While the rates charged for service might vary according to bandwidth (one assumes that those who buy more will pay less per unit...), the service received by all those who pay at any level should be identical.

Net Neutrality means "Equal Service for Equal Pay"... I think it would be very difficult to argue with that and I think it will be easily understood by those who hear it. What do you think?

bob wyman

Comments

[Michael Buckbee]

I'm all for making the discussion of Net Neutrality/Discrimination more accessible to those outside the tech community (another prominent theme at Gnomedex this year). My \3 Step Guide to Make Anyone care about Net Neutrality (http://www.buzzwordcompliant.net/?p=36) is an attempt at something similar.

I'm not even sure it matters so much what we call Network Neutrality. The important thing is to present this as a matter of free speech and information distribution (versus focusing on the tech aspects of this).

[Randy Charles Morin]

I think people miss the censorship angle as it related to porn and gambling. Do they get equal service?

[Bob Wyman]

Randy,
The point is to simplify, clarify, and focus the issue to the point where it is easy to understand and hard to misunderstand. I think people understand that people should get equal value for equal pay. It is a well accepted principle of every-day-life and common sense. It even resonates with constitutional principles of "equal treatment." The other Net Neutrality issues, some very arcane, can all be expressed in terms of "equal treatment," "equal service," "equal access," etc. The idea is to stress equality. In this context, Equality implies "neutrality." Folk generally accept that equality is a good thing.

bob wyman