How to Save the Internet.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	How to Save the Internet.
Authors:	Narechania, Tejas N.^1,2, Shenker, Scott^3,4
Source:	Berkeley Technology Law Journal. 2026, Vol. 41 Issue 1, p65-134. 70p.
Subjects:	Network neutrality, Digital divide, Engineering standards, Internet, Technological innovations, Computer networks, Internet laws
Abstract:	The Internet is our most important global communications infrastructure. But its continued success is at risk. The Internet originally flourished under a careful regime of regulations, technical standards, and market incentives that protected three key principles— neutrality, interconnection, and generality. For example, regulations requiring AT&T to interconnect with rivals and ensuring neutrality among applications helped to convert the telephone system into the foundation for our early Internet. Recently, the Internet has gradually evolved to meet modern demands for better performance and security, transitioning into what the computer science community calls an edge-enhanced Internet (or, more simply, the Enhanced Internet). This Enhanced Internet departs from the foundational principles—neutrality, interconnection, and generality—that characterized both the original Internet and the telephone networks before it. And so, though the Enhanced Internet offers greater performance and security, it also has less resilience, is subject to more concentrated private control, and contributes to a greater digital divide. Most critically, the Enhanced Internet risks stifling innovation: Though AT&T could not halt the rise of the original Internet, the concentrated owners of the Enhanced Internet may, by accident or advertence, impede the emergence of new transformative technologies and services. This shift to the Enhanced Internet has received little attention from legal and policy communities. But a path forward remains. With renewed regulatory effort and updated technical standards, we can preserve the advancements of the Enhanced Internet while restoring the foundational principles that fueled the original Internet’s success, ensuring an infrastructural platform for innovation and equitable connectivity in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Engineering Source

Description
Abstract:	The Internet is our most important global communications infrastructure. But its continued success is at risk. The Internet originally flourished under a careful regime of regulations, technical standards, and market incentives that protected three key principles— neutrality, interconnection, and generality. For example, regulations requiring AT&T to interconnect with rivals and ensuring neutrality among applications helped to convert the telephone system into the foundation for our early Internet. Recently, the Internet has gradually evolved to meet modern demands for better performance and security, transitioning into what the computer science community calls an edge-enhanced Internet (or, more simply, the Enhanced Internet). This Enhanced Internet departs from the foundational principles—neutrality, interconnection, and generality—that characterized both the original Internet and the telephone networks before it. And so, though the Enhanced Internet offers greater performance and security, it also has less resilience, is subject to more concentrated private control, and contributes to a greater digital divide. Most critically, the Enhanced Internet risks stifling innovation: Though AT&T could not halt the rise of the original Internet, the concentrated owners of the Enhanced Internet may, by accident or advertence, impede the emergence of new transformative technologies and services. This shift to the Enhanced Internet has received little attention from legal and policy communities. But a path forward remains. With renewed regulatory effort and updated technical standards, we can preserve the advancements of the Enhanced Internet while restoring the foundational principles that fueled the original Internet’s success, ensuring an infrastructural platform for innovation and equitable connectivity in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	10863818
DOI:	10.15779/Z38707WR0M