Lose the Zero-- Get with the Hero:
What Zero Ratings Mean for Digital Libraries
Michelle Gibeault @mjg39 & Stephanie Pierce @sjpierc
“Network neutrality, or net neutrality, is the principle
that all data or traffic on the Internet should be treated
equally. Internet users’ freedom of choice should not be
restricted or affected giving preferential treatment to certain
content, services, applications, or devices.” -- IFLA 2016
NO BLOCKING: broadband providers may not block access to legal content,
applications, services, or non-harmful devices.
NO THROTTLING: broadband providers may not impair or degrade lawful Internet
traffic on the basis of content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices.
NO PAID PRIORITIZATION: broadband providers may not favor some lawful Internet
traffic over other lawful traffic in exchange for consideration of any kind—in
other words, no "fast lanes." This rule also bans ISPs from prioritizing content
and services of their affiliates.
“Bright Line Rules” FCC 02/26/2015
Zero-Ratings Constitute Paid-Prioritization
in the Mobile Sphere
•
Effects users’ choices through positive discrimination
•
Creates a “walled garden effect” where users limit themselves to
zero-rated content
•
Impedes on users expectations of privacy when using resources
and services
•
Could threaten information diversity
•
Potential to intensify the digital divide problem
--- IFLA Statement on Net Neutrality and Zero-Rating, 2016
Corporate
Interests
Wealthy
Political
Interests
“Free”
prioritized
mobile
applications
Any Other
Rich
Interest
Group
Everybody
Else
PEOPLE
digital libraries, old-school
websites, blogs, things that haven’t
been invented yet, etc.
-- Susan Crawford
Harvard Law School professor
& co-director of the Berkman Klein Center
References
1. McMillen, Robert. (2014) What Everyone Gets Wrong in the Debate Over Net Neutrality. WIRED.
06.23.14.
2. Federal Communications Commission. (2015). Open Internet. https://www.fcc.gov/general/openinternet
3. International Federation of Library Associations. (2016). IFLA Statement on Net Neutrality and ZeroRating (2016). http://www.ifla.org/publications/node/10700
4. Marsden, C. T. (2016). Zero rating and mobile net neutrality. In L. Belli, & P. De Filippi (Eds.), Net
neutrality compendium: Human rights, free competition and the future of the internet (pp. 241-259).
Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-26425-7_18
5. Moshirnia, A. (2015). Zero-rating: Price discrimination in an era of net neutrality. Infrastructure, 54(4),
10/16/2016.
6. Crawford, S. (2015). Zero for conduct. Retrieved from https://backchannel.com/less-than-zero199bcb05a868#.oafp53nge