Wu, Tim (2003). Network Neutrality, Broadband Discrimination. J. Telecom. & High Tech. Volume 2: p. 141-179. www.democraticmedia.org/PDFs/timwu.pdf
This article, which is organized in five sections, is a detailed introduction to the concept of network neutrality, and the pros and cons of different ways of achieving it. The author, Tim Wu, is an important theorist on the subject. The article explains several important additional theoretical concepts, as well as important facts about the US broadband market, and telecommunications policy. In particular, besides defining network neutrality, it: discusses the relationship between the concepts of open access, broadband discrimination, and network neutrality; shows the results of a survey of the degree to which broadband operators currently restrict certain applications and favor others; explores the difference between structural remedies, a non-discrimination regime, and self- or non-regulation as three general approaches to the regulation of broadband providers; suggests a network neutrality policy that, for the sake of practicality, allows some forms of discrimination; and, addresses several possible counterarguments to this network neutrality regime. See the chart “Major Usage Restrictions” (p. 160) for a comparison of the restrictions of cable and DSL broadband providers – interestingly, cable providers tend to be more restrictive.