How Open is Open Internet?

US Vice President Joe Biden and UK Foreign Secretary William Hague both made statements in support of the “open internet” at the London Conference on Cyberspace, but what does “open” really mean? Already under discussion are limitations to “openness” in the name of copyright protection and national security, and the debate has focused largely on consumer’s rights to access. There is another angle to be considered, which concerns access for those providing online content. Should content providers pay to be online, or should they be allowed to pay for preferential service? Recently, UK content providers weighed in on the debate.