FSF Scholars Warn Against the Title II Threat to Innovative 5G Network Slicing

On April 2, the Free State Foundation released a Perspectives from FSF Scholars by President Randolph May and Senior Fellow Andrew Long titled "The 'Network Slicing' Debate Exposes How Title II Will Kill Innovation." Their Perspectives paper provides a helpful descriptive overview of 5G mobile network slicing and how it can provide optimal service for different use cases, including broadband Internet access services, telemedicine, Internet-of-Things, and more. But as FSF President May and Mr. Long explain, the Commission's proposal to reclassify broadband Internet access services as a Title II "telecommunications service” under the Communications Act threatens to impede these breakthrough uses of next-generation broadband networks. Their paper concludes: "To encourage continued investment and innovation, the Commission should shelve its entire proposal to impose a public utility straitjacket on Internet providers and let technological advancements and marketplace competition do the job of enhancing consumer welfare."

FSF President May and Mr. Long's Perspectives paper is worthwhile reading on network slicing and the harm to innovation posed by Title II regulation. Also, an April 5 FedSoc Blog post by former NTIA Administrator John Kneuer, titled "Network Slicing and Net Neutrality" elaborates on these same matters and cites favorably to that paper.