Net Neutrality refers to free access to the Internet without discrimination based upon how often a user accesses the Internet or how much broadband capacity they utilize. Advocates for Net Neutrality believe that users are entitled to unlimited access in order to preserve current freedoms as well as to prevent broadband providers from abusing their power to block applications they do not favor or to discriminate between content providers. Critics of Net Neutrality and associated legislative proposals believe that Net Neutrality rules would reduce incentives to upgrade networks and launch next generation network services and, in turn, inhibit the most efficient access to the broadband network.

Should Internet Service Providers continue to drive the same “neutral” course, giving all search requests and other uses of the Net equal treatment? Absent legislation, will these ISP’s create Internet “toll roads,” giving preference to certain types of information? It is these types of questions that are at the heart of the debate on Net Neutrality.

The University of San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Bulletin is proud to present The Toll Roads? The Legal and Political Debate Over Net Neutrality to held January 26, 2008, at the Fromm Institute on the University of San Francisco main campus. The Symposium will be a gathering where the legal community will join together with political scientists, economists, communications experts and students to engage in a day of presentation and discussion of the issues surrounding Network Neutrality

John B. Manger.