I wanted to highlight a new academic study that argues that net neutrality could be harmful to consumers, produced by none other than the University of California Berkley's Business School which is well-known for its close ties to Silicon Valley. I guess everyone in the Valley did not get the "memo" so some of its top academics are doing some free and open thinking about Net Neutrality and its potential impacts on consumers.
The academic study is entitled: The Economics of Product line Restrictions with and Application to the Net Neutrality Debate." I know and respect one of the study's authors, Micahel Katz from when he did this type of analyisis very ably in the real world of evaluating competition at the FCC as their Chief Economist and as a Senior official in the Department of Justice Antitrust Division. His analysis will carry weight with substantive folk that matter because of his outstanding and relevant experience and perspective.
The essence of their study is that one-size-fits-all regulation would undermine the way markets work in serving more than one group of consumers. They model and show that one-size-fits-all net neutrality regulation could leave consumers at the bottom priced out of the market and high-end consumers with less than they need. They also conclude it could sub-optimize the current benefits of competition.
I really look forward to seeing if the neutr-elitists can come up with some defensible studies of their own showing how consumers would benefit from Net Neutrality regulation. There have been a whole lot of hallow assertions and allegations that the neutr-elitists have not substantiated at all. They have a lot of work to do on the quality of their idea, thinking and analysis, if they are going to get many people to take them seriously.
I genuinely believe there are many who are honestly afraid of what might happen. If those fears are warranted -- make the case and back it up with sound analysis and evidence.