Chris Marsden speaks on Network Neutrality - Towards Medium Law
Net neutrality is the subject of regulatory decisions in Canada and the United States, and legislation across the European Union, but the details of enforcement remain vague if not obscure. Based on his recent (January 2010) book on the subject and those recent decisions, Chris Marsden argues that we should not entrench 鈥楲ex Monopolium鈥� at the expense of an open Internet, nor is the choice that drastic. Innovation and investment can be encouraged by relatively light touch co-regulatory transparency principles, backed up by a regulator with sufficient comprehension and research into the issues and sharp teeth to make a real political commitment to intervene where economic or social interests dictate. Network neutrality may be a slogan that covers many concerns about the future of the Internet, but it certainly provides an excellent platform to create this wider and better informed discussion. Indeed, it may signal the beginning of a new phase of media policy: 'Medium Law'.
Chris Marsden joined the School of Law of the University of Essex in 2007. He was senior analyst at RAND Europe (2005-07), research manager at Oxford's Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (2004-05), Regulatory Director at MCI WorldCom UK Ltd (2001-02), and General Counsel of Shortmedia (2000-01).
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