i2Coalition Member Writes Free Market Case For Net Neutrality

i2Coalition Member Eric Ellis of cPanel has written a piece arguing why Net Neutrality, and the Open Internet Order, are good for an open market. An excerpt from the piece is below.

We are strong believers in minimal Internet regulations. In most cases, free market capitalism unfettered by regulation is better for innovation, cost savings, and even public safety. Moreover, it’s pretty clear that the Internet itself would never have become the transformative force it has without a low regulatory burden.

But the invisible hand of the free market only works in actual free markets. ‘Last mile’ providers aren’t operating in free markets, and with the elimination of Net Neutrality, they will be able to exploit free markets that they are not, in fact, a part of.

Built by many, no one owns the Internet. There are about 35,000 companies out there that are hosting, storing, and sending content from millions of websites around the planet. It’s a highly competitive ecosystem and a highly efficient one. It’s driven by innovation and gets better, faster, and cheaper each year.

The ‘last mile’ broadband provider isn’t part of that ecosystem. They set you up a home or business connection with a pipe to access that world of legal content, which they do not produce, store or deliver themselves.

You can read the full story on Medium, embedded below.

A Free Market Case for Net Neutrality – Eric Ellis – Medium

by S. Eric Ellis and Christian Dawson In one way, shape, or form, we have been working with groups fighting for Net Neutrality for about six years. On December 14th, we will be forced to sit back and watch the successes we’ve had over the past few years be cast aside.