"Constructing The Net: How Cable News Coverage Articulates Meaning For The Net Neutrality

Debate." Conference Papers -- International Communication Association (2012): 1-

32. Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 19 Sept. 2014.

This conference paper was published by the International Communications Association in 2012
as a synopsis of the current approach mass media is taking in regards to net neutrality. The
purpose of this article is a proposal that illustrates how the average citizen consumes and
interprets media. The particular point that is examined by this paper is one in which the layman
is exposed to a majority of news coverage from cable or corporate news sources. As the line
between corporate control and objective media becomes increasingly blurry the fight for control
over independent outlets of information is becoming strained. The lack of substantial coverage
over the net neutrality debate is interpreted by the authors as a conscious effort to obfuscate the
issues surrounding the subject. This results in an undereducated populace with respect to net
neutrality. The driving force behind this ideology is that an ill-informed consumer will inevitably
give way to corporate control over the vital resource of internet service.

This article is written with respect to the community of journalists and media outlets worldwide.
The purpose of this paper is to expose the potential for controlling interests to overtake
reasonable dissemination of information as a means to generate a particular sociological effect.
In abstract, major news networks are attempting to restrain the flow of information as a means of
producing an end result in their favor. The ultimate goal being an internet where access is
divided amongst major cable providers instead of being free and open. The context of this article
is important because it is representative of the realization by journalists that there is the potential
to lose objectivity and free press, a key component to a functional representative democracy.

The author is a collective of journalist experts and media representatives that are generating a
narrative which promotes awareness of the issues surrounding net neutrality. They examine the
potential for societal impact as well as the possibility for a future without an open internet, this
results in the conclusion that it will be a net negative effect on media in general. The author is
credible because they are engaged in a process of self-examination in an effort to raise awareness
of a relatively unknown issue.

This piece is relevant to my research because it lays the groundwork for my argument against the
merging of major media providers due t the fact that they are already actively campaigning
against net neutrality through the use of the services they currently provide. This evidence
becomes increasingly disturbing when it is apparent that if these companies are granted even
more control over internet resources they will ultimately be able to control the internet as a
whole.

Gilroy, Angele A. "Access To Broadband Networks: The Net Neutrality Debate." Journal Of
Current Issues In Media & Telecommunications 5.4 (2013): 331-351. Communication
& Mass Media Complete. Web. 19 Sept. 2014.
Angele Gilroy illustrates the connections between government and media and how they correlate
to the potential for a reduced access to the internet. This paper was published in the journal of
current issues in media and telecommunications in 2013. This is a relevant piece that outlines the
lobbying forces responsible for the attempt to take over the internet by major media providers.
The overall tone of this paper portrays the single most important factor in the fight over net
neutrality, government regulation of media resources. Although government regulation is not
necessarily the best solution to this issue it is apparent that it will serve as an appropriate
intermediary until the majority of society becomes aware of the importance of an independent
and open internet. The article also touches on the legislation that has led up to the current state of
affairs in regards to net neutrality. The focus is particularly trained on a major internet service
provider known as Comcast. The author examines the various business practices of Comcast and
how they violated FCC statutes. This is relevant because they are slated to merge with another
mass communications internet provider Time Warner Cable.

The purpose of this article is to show the divide between the average consumer and major
telecommunications companies. The unfortunate truth is that the line dividing these two
opposing forces is the legislative branch. This paper depicts a David vs. Goliath scenario in
which the well-funded lobbying interests of these corporate entities have direct access to
congressional leaders and thus are able to mold the legal landscape in their favor. The paper also
shows the various business practices in regards to how consumers of bandwidth and data are
charged for said usage. Overall the corporations are predominately concerned with bandwidth
consumption, but as new technology is developed that consumes more bandwidth these
companies contend that they should be able to control the ability to access bandwidth. This will
lead to an environment in which innovation is stifled and corporate control of a public utility will
allow these corporations to legitimately influence public access to media, thus shaping public
opinion.
The author of this article is credible because of her contributions to her particular field of study.
Her paper is also thoroughly researched and backed by hard facts. The sources she uses are all in
the public domain and typically revolve around governmental rulings on the subject of net
neutrality.
This article is relevant because it shows how Government regulation is crucial to maintaining a
neutral and independent internet. This is important, because the only other alternative would be
one in which the service providers are free to dictate the terms of their distribution.

Gross, Doug. "FCC Approves Controversial 'net Neutrality' Rules - CNN." CNN.com. Cable
News Network, 21 Dec. 2010. Web. 19 Sept. 2014.
Doug Gross is a journalist for CNN. He has a moral obligation to objectively report the news.
This is an interesting pices because he is representative of a major meida outlet that would be
directly affected by legislation that would alter net neutrality. This is important because it
illustrates the dichotomy of how some news outlets are beholden to the legislative branch for
their very existence. If the service providers were in control of the internet they would be able to
decide who the winners and loser of the media are. This is a crucial point because this will
grant immense power to the service providers over access to information. Ultimately this article
shows how the FCC is trying to independently regulate the internet without stiffer congressional
legislation. This is imperative because until Congress takes a particular stance then the rules
regarding net neutrality will continually fluctuate.

This article shows how the FCC is not the influential decision making authority required to
resolve this issue. Their fast and loose regulation of the industry could ultimately result in
cumbersome Supreme Court rulings that would ultimately hamper Congressional ability to
effectively legislate this matter. Due to the system of checks and balances our government is
found upon Congress hands would be effectively tied if this issue went to the Supreme Court.

The author is credible because of his moral obligation to objectively report the news. He also has
skin in the game on both sides of the aisle with regards to this argument. This is important
because it further incentivizes him to report in an objective manner.

This article is important and relevant to my research because it shows how the current state of
legislation is in a deadlock resulting in an attempt at non legislative solutions to this problem.
This will ultimately result in a prolonged battle over net neutrality which is not an adequate
means of solving the problem at hand.

Guo, Hong, et al. "Net Neutrality And Vertical Integration Of Content And Broadband
Services." Journal Of Management Information Systems 27.2 (2010): 243-275.
Business Source Complete. Web. 19 Sept. 2014.

This article was written by Hong Guo. She has a PhD in information technology and software
engineering. This paper provides an in depth analysis of the market structure in regards to
internet service providers and how the future merge of Comcast and Time Warner Cable could
result in a vertically integrated monopolistic model. This is important because there is a
consistent trend towards monopoly in this market and the ramifications of said monopoly are
similar to historical monopolies such as Standard Oil and US Steel in the early 20
th
century. This
article provides insight on the issue of net neutrality and discusses how a vertically integrated
ISP system would function without net neutrality. Using Game theory the author is able to devise
a logic system which shows how the monopoly will inevitably control the market in a net effort
to maximize profit. The interesting conclusion is that there is a majority potential for a net
negative effect on social welfare if the ISP is allowed to vertically integrate.

This paper offers an insightful and credible stance in regards to the economic and technological
impact of violating net neutrality. The authors are all independent researchers that are experts in
their fields of study, many of them possess PhDs in their field.

This information will be used in my paper as a means of showing how the potential monopoly
between Time Warner Cable and Comcast would result in a net negative effect on social welfare.

Lenard, Thomas M., and Randolph J. May, eds. NET NEUTRALITY OR NET NEUTERING:
SHOULD BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICES BE REGULATED. New York: Springer
Science-I-Business Media, LLC, 2006. SpringerLink. 13 Sept. 2006. Web. 19 Sept. 2014.

This book was written by Thomas Lenard and Randolph May. They both possess PhDs in
economics. Lenard posits that Net Neutrality has legitimate pros and cons which are underlined
by the business practices of the ISPs. He also shows how the internet is regulated under the type
of service provided (i.e: DSL, Broadband, Fiber, etc.) This is important because he provides an
opposing viewpoint that argues how net neutrality is a moot point considering that ISPs will be
incentivized to efficiently provide access to the best content on the internet thus increasing the
competitive nature of the internet.

Lenard and May are both quality researchers who provide evidence that a non-neutral internet is
actually a good thing. This is contradictory to my particular stance on the subject, but it does
provide a consistent analysis of the opposition and as a result allows insightful conclusions in
regards to the opposing viewpoints.

I would argue that this piece is adequately representative of the arguments against net neutrality.
It is crucial to examine the elements of the ISPs in order to understand the scope and breadth of
this argument. I contend that the authors are too heavily focused on the economics of the policy,
rather than the potentially negative impact that destroying net neutrality would have on society as
a whole.

The piece is relevant because it shows how ISPs are dependent on bandwidth as a primary
consideration for content delivery over their particular service medium. This is a question of
which is more important: the provision of content or the provision of service. This article serves
to answer the question I pose as to the relevance of ISPs in regards to how the content they
provide is ultimately tied to the cost of individual services.

"Net Neutrality." New York Times. 6 May 2010. Web. 19 Sept. 2014.
This article was written by the editorial board of the New York Times in May of 2014. This is a
snapshot of the current legislative policies that are being put in place by the FCC in an effort to
find a happy median of resolution between the opposing sides of this debate. The editors of this
paper are morally obligated to report the news objectively.

The purpose of this article to show how the various FCC rulings are attempting to provide
consumer protection while taking into account the concerns of corporate interests.

The authors are independent critics and reporters on the subject matter. They are credible
because of their journalistic principle that govern their career field.

This article is relevant because it shows the legitimate need for legislation and regulation of this
particular industry.

Owen, Bruce M. The Net Neutrality Debate: Twenty Five Years After United States v. AT&T
and 120 Years After the Act to Regulate Commerc. Stanford Law and Economics Olin
Working Paper No. 336; AEI-Brookings Joint Center Working Paper, Vol. 7, No. 3,
2007. Stanford, 31 July 2007. Web. 19 Sept. 2014.

Bruce Owen is a Stanford economic policy institute researcher. This article represents the
varying rulings for and against mass media conglomerates and how the major corporate interests
are attempting to justify their current business practices. The various Telecommunications
companies argue that the internet is a medium of content provision, but their service is a direct
subsidiary of the highly regulated telephony industry. It is important that this distinction is made
because it shows how the two industries compete in regards to regulation. One industry is largely
unregulated with a distinct trend towards division of content behind pay walls (i.e: Cable
Television) while the other is regulated and thus open access (i.e: Phone services are not locked
behind a paywall forcing you to pay for subscription based content more than once.)

This article is written in the context of an economic stance and effectively illustrates the
evolution of the internet over time. This is important because it shows how the internet was
initially reliant on phone lines and thus fell under regulatory practices, but as the technology
developed the internet became more akin to a cable T.V service. This is a crucial part of the
argument because it contributes to the approach as to how the internet should be handled.

The author is credible because it is his primary job to research this particular field. His research
is adequately supported by objective sources.

The relevance of this article shows how the landscape of ISP delivery has changed over the
years. This answers and supports my thesis because it shows how an industry derived from the
telephony industry should be regulated as such.