[187967] in North American Network Operators' Group
New survey report published: The regulatory conditions of internet
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Uta Meier-Hahn)
Tue Mar 1 08:19:27 2016
X-Original-To: nanog@nanog.org
From: Uta Meier-Hahn <meier-hahn@hiig.de>
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2016 14:19:19 +0100
To: nanog@nanog.org
Errors-To: nanog-bounces@nanog.org
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Hi,
A couple of months ago, I asked you to share your experiences with =
regards to public regulation of internet interconnection in a survey. =
Many networkers from around the globe participated. Thank you!
The report has now been published. I=E2=80=99m including the executive =
summary below. The full paper can be downloaded at =
<http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3D2740312>. Feel =
free to share this link wherever you see fit.
Thanks again for providing your highly valuable input. I will be happy =
to hear what you think about the results.
Best wishes,
Uta
# Exploring the regulatory conditions of internet interconnection
## Executive summary
Network interconnection is a central feature of the internet that has =
been subject to only little formal regulation. However, local public =
regulation is starting to emerge =E2=80=93 be it through disclosure =
regulations, mandatory peering or licensing terms. Due to the networked =
nature of the internet, local rules may acquire a global scope.
This report explores internet interconnection professionals=E2=80=99 =
encounters with public regulation and it provides an initial overview =
about how this regulation affects internet connectivity. On the basis of =
a convenience sample of 163 survey submissions, the following has been =
found:
* Nine out of ten kinds of regulation presented to the participants have =
been encountered by more than half of them. This result gives reason to =
revisit the widespread notion that internet interconnection is an =
unregulated space. 66% of the participants have encountered a regulatory =
authority that imposes its own technical or operational standards. =
Moreover, imposition of regulatory standards was regarded to be the most =
influential on internet interconnection practices, together with =
competition laws (both 67%).
* Local regulation of internet interconnection creates a tension between =
the regulated and the unregulated space in the internet. In order to =
overcome the normative difference, network operators need to make an =
extra effort. The degree to which network operators are affected by =
local regulation depends on a networks=E2=80=99 structure rather than on =
its size. Local regulation raises more difficulties for the kinds of =
infrastructural innovations that depend on having many points of =
presence.
* For networkers, public regulation of internet interconnection is =
relevant in three thematic domains: 1) in the economies of internet =
interconnection, 2) in engineering and operations, and 3) in the modes =
of governance.
* Overarching observations note that public regulation of internet =
interconnection contributes to a formalisation of the otherwise very =
informal sector. It also shines a spotlight on how networks are =
categorised and are thereby =E2=80=9Cprepared=E2=80=9D for the =
application of regulation. Further, various examples highlight how =
regulatory authorities co-opt internet infrastructure for new policy =
purposes that were previously not understood as central to internet =
operations, e.g., data retention.
* Local networkers value the presence of international network operators =
not only as potential peering partners but also as mediators for =
know-how about best practices and advanced modes of internet =
interconnection.
* Networkers are very critical about regulations that contradict =
engineering principles. The most accepted forms of regulation also apply =
in other societal spheres: basic rights for citizens, e.g., for =
broadband, and competition regulation.
=E2=80=94
Uta Meier-Hahn | Doctoral Researcher
Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society
Franz=C3=B6sische Stra=C3=9Fe 9 | 10117 Berlin
Phone +49 30 200 760-82 | http://www.hiig.de/en
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