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Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
Is this in any way related to consumer laws that prohibit companies from discriminating against certain groups?
Also, when you consider consumer rights, consumers have the right to choose what they consume. In many areas, it's illegal to block competition and to otherwise attempt practices that work against a free and open market.
Does net neutrality fit in there somewhere?
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No. The laws against consumer discrimination are generally related to equal rights and civil rights legislation.
With regards to blocking competition, Im sure that antitrust laws could come into play in a few cases of the most egregious violations of net neutrality.
But the main way that nations have enforced net neutrality is through the common carrier label. Transportation companies, telecommunications, etc. who make use of public infrastructure and want to offer regular services to the public are considered common carriers, and one of the stipulations of a common carrier is that it cannot discriminate.
Which is why it is so ironic that some people are trying to use the "but it's their private property" argument against net neutrality. The regulations of common carriers basically exist because the public says "its our property, you can use it if you follow our rules."