Convergence and nuances of Net Neutrality in South America

Abstract

The Internet has become the ultimate platform for convergence, closely associated with network, technology, and media, due to its open and nondiscriminatory architecture. Convergence in telecommunications is propelled by ideas, ideologies, and policies progressively and cyclically, bringing further technological advancement, market, business, and policy changes. As a response to convergence, net neutrality seeks to regulate the relationship between Internet service providers and users to avoid discriminatory practices and ensure the openness of the Internet as a platform for innovation, economic development, and access to information for all. The objective of this work is to analyze the development of convergence in the telecommunications sector and the progress of net neutrality policies in South America, with five specific cases using a qualitative empirical approach. Within the findings, we identify different approaches for legislating net neutrality, controversies concerning the levels of commitment to the principles, ambiguity for effective enforcement of the rules, and commercial arrangements that in practice violate net neutrality.