Media@McGill is pleased to host Chris Marsden who will discuss his latest book on net neutrality:
Marsden, C. (2009), Net Neutrality: Towards a Co-Regulatory Solution. London: Bloomsbury. The event is 14 January, 4h30-6pm in Ferrier 230.
Title: Network Neutrality - Towards Medium Law (The first chapter is available electronically.)
Abstract: Net neutrality is the subject of regulatory decisions in Canada and the United States, and legislation across the European Union, but the details of enforcement remain vague if not obscure. Based on his recent (January 2010) book on the subject and those recent decisions, Chris Marsden argues that we should not entrench ‘Lex Monopolium’ at the expense of an open Internet, nor is the choice that drastic. Innovation and investment can be encouraged by relatively light touch co-regulatory transparency principles, backed up by a regulator with suffi cient comprehension and research into the issues and sharp teeth to make a real political commitment to intervene where economic or social interests dictate. Network neutrality may be a slogan that covers many concerns about the future of the Internet, but it certainly provides an excellent platform to create this wider and better informed discussion.
Indeed, it may signal the beginning of a new phase of media policy: Medium Law'.
Bio: Chris Marsden joined the School of Law of the University of Essex in 2007. He was senior analyst at RAND Europe (2005-07), research manager at Oxford's Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (2004-05), Regulatory Director at MCI WorldCom UK Ltd (2001-02), and General Counsel of Shortmedia (2000-01). He has LLB 1989 and LLM (International Economic Law) 1994 from the London of School of Economics. He has been Associate Editor of the communications regulation and policy journal 'info' since 2008; Board Member, Society for Computers and Law Media (2009 to-date); Editorial Board Member of the journal 'info' since 2003; and Founding co-editor of International Journal of Communications Law and Policy (1998-2001).