NATOA Board of Directors adopts a Network Neutrality Statement.
The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA), an organization dedicated to promoting community interests in communications, has reinforced its long standing policy statement regarding the non-discriminatory access by all users to all forms of communications services. NATOA’s Board supports the efforts of lawmakers to enact specific legislation that would prevent communications providers from discriminating or prioritizing the transmissions of any communications services or products based on the content or source of such services and products. NATOA’s current policy states:
NATOA Supports
- …the effective and efficient use of all communications technologies including voice, video, data, and information services over wired and wireless transmission technologies.
- Local governments support implementation of Federal, State and Local laws and rules that encourage open and interconnected services and technologies that are universally available to all citizens.
In recent years communications providers have suggested that they expect to favor some content and services over others, for commercial, political, or other purposes. NATOA’s Board does not believe that a communications provider should be allowed to favor one content provider, service or product over another. All persons purchasing specific communications services or products from a communications provider should receive access without any form of discrimination by the communications provider. This principle of non-discriminatory treatment is called “Net Neutrality.”
Communications providers are already compensated for the use of their networks through subscriptions by consumers to their products and services. Communications providers should not be allowed to favor one consumer over another simply by virtue of the consumer’s choice of product, service, or website.