Student Name
Instructor
Course
7th October 2015
Net Neutrality
The purpose of this research paper is to discuss how net-neutrality regulations will hinder competition and innovative growth. The research paper starts with an introduction of net neutrality then proceeds to the main argument of the topic. The paper will examine how net neutrality regulations have posed threats to internet use while reviewing some the work done different scholars. At the end of this part, an argument will be presented to show how threat to internet use will hinder competition and innovation growth. To strengthen the argument and stand of this paper, the paper will also examine the importance of net neutrality in businesses and communities which are core for development and show how this regulations will hinder innovation and competition to businesses and communities due to lack of information. The paper shall close with a conclusion part that will sum up the ideas discussed in the paper and bring to light how net neutrality will hinder competition and innovation.
A research done by Bauer, Johannes, and Woohyun on "Regulation and innovation in Telecommunications" revealed that more than any other innovation or invention of our time, the Internet has opened potential outcomes we could barely imagine of a generation ago (Bauer 9). The research provided major reasons we have seen such extraordinary development and advancement as most Internet providers have treated Internet traffic in an equal manner. That is the principle known as "net neutrality" and it says that a business person's fledging organization ought to have the same opportunity to succeed as other established enterprises, and that entry to a secondary school student’s online journal shouldn't be unreasonably backed off to clear a way for advertisers with more money.
In simpler terms, Net neutrality refers to the thought/idea that all Internet data should be treated equally by the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) (Ganley 455). Ganley in his research further noted that for most part of the internet history, the Internet Service Providers did not differentiate between the various content types that flow via the networks, may it be in web pages, emails or any other form of information. In the 1990s and early 2000s, few Internet Service Providers who tried to block certain forms of data faced opposition from the consumers, regulators, and technological companies. With a rise in bandwidth-heavy services, for example, Netflix, the Internet Service Providers have increasingly sought to sell this bandwidth or the fast lanes to the companies that are willing to pay for it.
Firstly, net neutrality will hinder competition and innovation based on the threats it has posed to the internet. According to a research that was conducted by Faulhaber and Gerald on "Economics of net neutrality” it was noted that net neutrality will serve an important role in steering competition in all spheres of the economy but however, having regulation that aim at empowering providers will bar competition to factors of production thereto bringing down growth ( Faulhaber 57). Craig Aaron a member of the pro-regulation group Free Press contended that exclusive deals among the providers could turn into the norm, with AT&T only bringing you Netflix, while Time Warner Cable is the sole source for YouTube (Economides 209). He sees security and decision making heading towards the store of history, saying it will not be long before the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) obliges one to interface through their list of affirmed gadgets and after that uses those gadgets to watch them literally. Craig says that this is the end of the internet. Michael Weinberg of the support group Public Knowledge correspondingly refers to a parade of horribles, including corrupted administration, higher expenses, and less advancement, because of higher charges and limited choices Supporters of regulation, however, have been making such predictions for quite a long time, and they never seemed to come true.
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are keener on gaining clients than pushing them away. There has been only one recorded situation where an Internet Service Providers (ISPs) plainly endeavored to block Internet content for its benefit. In most cases, the imagined outrages of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) attacking adversaries and removing ruinous expenses are only imagined. Surely, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have the specialized ability to block or hinder certain services and sites but however, they are not interesting at all. Numerous organizations, including Google, a long-lasting supporter of neutrality regulation have the same capacities. Blocking sites or obstructing disfavored services would rapidly seem like asking clients to leave for good to another provider. According to a research that was conducted by (Economides 9) it was established that regulating net neutrality will cause discrimination and mishandling of market via the internet and as result this would bring down competition in the market as well as innovations that are seen as key promoters of economy growth.

Secondly, regulating Net Neutrality will hinder investments and innovation that are paramount for growth. According to a research that was done by Hahn, Robert, and Scott Wall on "The economics of net neutrality” it was established that the present arrangement of administrative self-control, motivations and opportunities have prompted an eminent record of investment and innovation in the system that has empowered, encouraged and increased the worth at the edge for new services, applications and gadgets/devices with significantly increased usefulness and appropriation. In fact, a large number of the developments at the edge reflect venture and business model use of services initially presented by in the center network. (Hahn 37). The research concluded that regulation of net neutrality will cause imbalance between innovation, investment and internet ecosystem.
A research done by Mike on Net Neutrality which examined the Impact on the Consumer and Economic Growth further supported this claims by noting that the inconvenience of common carrier type regulations on the network providers would lessen incentives and chances to continue with investment and innovation at the center, in this manner affecting the overflow of benefits to the edge (Mike 7). New limitations on broadband network providers would lead to increase in danger and uncertainty, reduce prospects for development, and undermine network administrators' incentives and chances to adjust to rapidly changing specialized and economic conditions in the Internet Ecosystem. Chris in his research also noted that, the Internet regulations would undermine the capacity of new opponents to enter and effectively challenge predominant edge providers that have established market power and a current national infrastructure (Chris 13). He supported his claims by noting that net neutrality regulations would create barriers to entry by securing huge edge providers to the detriment of would-be opponents. Thus, strategies that reduce the network venture would likewise hinder innovation in the Internet Ecosystem.
In essence, as noted above, net neutrality Internet will reduce the welfare of the customer welfare. Numerous financial analysts trust that competitive concerns including the Internet's openness are better tended to through a case-by-case arbitration and antitrust implementation, not ex risk or prescriptive regulations, and that Internet net neutrality would diminish customer welfare, innovation, and investment. Subsidizing content suppliers at the cost of the expense suppliers’ leaves buyers in a bad condition, in a few circumstances, the absolute surplus could increase net neutrality. The losses that are sustained by the customers and the platform operators under net neutrality exceed any gains appreciated by content providers as the benefit proportion is adjusted to less exactly impossible levels, which prompts deadweight loss under the net neutrality. Consumers would be more terrible off with net neutrality (Becker, 501).
Thirdly, examining the importance of net neutrality to businesses, numerous researchers have found that, regulation of net neutrality will negatively impact business growth. Wallsten in his research noted that Net Neutrality is vital for small entrepreneurs, new businesses and large business, who depend on the open Internet to launch their organizations, create a business sector, publicize their items and services, and disperse their products to clients (Wallsten 34). He further suggests that we require the open Internet to foster the growth of jobs or investment, competition, and innovation.
Pasquale further supports these claims in his research "Beyond Innovation and Competition” that aimed at determining the Need for Qualified Transparency in Internet Intermediaries. He noted that Net neutrality brings down the barriers of entry for business people, new companies, and small organizations by guaranteeing the Web is a reasonable and level playing field. It is the result of Net Neutrality that small organizations and the entrepreneurs have possessed the capacity to flourish with the Internet. They utilize the Internet to reach new clients and showcase their products, applications and administrations (Pasquale 47). No organization ought to have the capacity to interfere with this open commercial center. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are by definition the guards to the Internet, and without Net Neutrality, they would grab every possible chance to benefit from that gatekeeper control. Without Net Neutrality, the next Google could never get off the ground.

Lastly, Net Neutrality has been found to be paramount to the local communities. Most researchers note that regulation of net neutrality will block these benefits to the local communities. Net neutrality allows diverse communities to tell their particular stories and to sort out for racial and social equity. The standard media have failed to permit minorities to represent themselves. What is more, on account of financial disparity and runaway media consolidation, ethnic minorities own only a small number of broadcast stations. The absence of various possessions is an essential motivation behind why the media have gotten away with portraying groups of color stereotypically. The regulating Net Neutrality gives underestimated voices chances to be heard. Without Net Neutrality, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) could block unpopular discourse and also prevent protester voices from talking openly on the web. Without Net Neutrality, ethnic minorities would lose a crucial platform. Also, without Net Neutrality, a huge number of small organizations owned by non-white individuals would not have the ability to go compete with the bigger enterprises on the web, which would further extend the financial disparity in our country's most powerless group (Ganley, 468).

Conclusion
In summary, net neutrality regulations according to most researchers would hinder network innovation and development, and hinder competition. As discussed in this paper, regulation of net neutrality has much negativity to competition and innovation for economic growth in general. Firstly, as discuss, these regulation will interfere with internet which is seen as a primary promoter of competition and innovation as it easy to use. This will further slow down the rates of innovations and inventions as businesses growth will be affected as well as communities who are seen as the primary drivers of competition and innovations. Therefore, it is true that regulation of net neutrality will hinder competition and innovation in growth.

Works Cited
Bauer, Johannes M., and Woohyun Shim. "Regulation and innovation in Telecommunications."
Quello Center for Telecommunications Management and Law, Working Paper (2012): 01-12.
Becker, Gary S., Dennis W. Carlton, and Hal S. Sider. "Net neutrality and consumer welfare."
Journal of Competition Law and Economics 6.3 (2010): 497-519.
Chris,M and Bret, S. “Net Neutrality, Investment & Jobs: Assessing the potential Impacts of the
FCC’s Proposed Net Neutrality Rules on the Broadband Ecosystem” (2010):5-13; Retrieved from: http://www.onecommunity.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Davidson-Swanson-NN-Economic-Impact-Paper-FINAL.pdf.
Economides, Nicholas. "Net neutrality, non-discrimination and digital distribution of content through the internet." ISJLP 4 (2008): 209.
Faulhaber, Gerald R. "Economics of net neutrality: A review." Communications & Convergence
Review 3.1 (2011): 53-64.
Ganley, Paul, and Ben Allgrove. "Net neutrality: A user's guide." Computer Law & Security
Review 22.6 (2006): 454-463.
Hahn, Robert W., and Scott Wallsten. "The economics of net neutrality." The Economists' Voice
3.6 (2006).
Mike Jude.”Net Neutrality: Impact on the Consumer and Economic Growth” Consumer
Communication Services (CCS) 4.13(2010): 4-24; Retrieved from: http://internetinnovation.org/files/special-reports/Impact_of_Net_Neutrality_on_Consumers_and_Economic_Growth.pdf.
Pasquale, Frank A. "Beyond Innovation and Competition: The Need for Qualified Transparency in Internet Intermediaries." Available at SSRN 1686043 (2010).
Wallsten, Scott, and Stephanie Hausladen. "Net neutrality, unbundling, and their effects on international investment in next-generation networks." Review of Network Economics 8.1 (2009).