A Public Option for the Core

Yotam Harchol, Dirk Bergemann, Nick Feamster, Eric Friedman, Arvind Krishnamurthy, Aurojit Panda, Sylvia Ratnasamy, Michael Schapira, Scott Shenker

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This paper is focused not on the Internet architecture-as defined by layering, the narrow waist of IP, and other core design principles-but on the Internet infrastructure, as embodied in the technologies and organizations that provide Internet service. In this paper we discuss both the challenges and the opportunities that make this an auspicious time to revisit how we might best structure the Internet's infrastructure. Currently, the tasks of transit-between-domains and last-mile-delivery are jointly handled by a set of ISPs who interconnect through BGP. In this paper we propose cleanly separating these two tasks. For transit, we propose the creation of a "public option"for the Internet's core backbone. This public option core, which complements rather than replaces the backbones used by large-scale ISPs, would (i) run an open market for backbone bandwidth so it could leverage links offered by third-parties, and (ii) structure its terms-of-service to enforce network neutrality so as to encourage competition and reduce the advantage of large incumbents.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationSIGCOMM 2020 - Proceedings of the 2020 Annual Conference of the ACM Special Interest Group on Data Communication on the Applications, Technologies, Architectures, and Protocols for Computer Communication
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery
Pages377-389
Number of pages13
ISBN (Electronic)9781450379557
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 30 2020
Event2020 Annual Conference of the ACM Special Interest Group on Data Communication on the Applications, Technologies, Architectures, and Protocols for Computer Communication, SIGCOMM 2020 - Virtual, Online, United States
Duration: Aug 10 2020Aug 14 2020

Publication series

NameSIGCOMM 2020 - Proceedings of the 2020 Annual Conference of the ACM Special Interest Group on Data Communication on the Applications, Technologies, Architectures, and Protocols for Computer Communication

Conference

Conference2020 Annual Conference of the ACM Special Interest Group on Data Communication on the Applications, Technologies, Architectures, and Protocols for Computer Communication, SIGCOMM 2020
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityVirtual, Online
Period8/10/208/14/20

Keywords

  • Internet infrastructure
  • Internet transit
  • Network neutrality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hardware and Architecture
  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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