Google recently unveiled a research plan, which will ultimately allow end-users to determine whether Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are inappropriately blocking or slowing their work online.

The content giant will appoint academic researchers, equipped with 36 servers, in 12 locations in the USA and Europe to probe Internet Service Provider traffic control practices.

The new research initiative hopes to address some of the issues around the debate over network neutrality, which sees content companies, like Google, squaring off against some ISPs (such as Comcast).

Net neutrality

In the hotly contested debate, ISPs have been accused of abusing their power by discriminating against certain types of traffic and favouring others.

In their defence, ISPs claim that any prioritisation of traffic constitutes nothing more than the reasonable steps they are forced to take, in order to manage the ever-increasing volumes of traffic on their networks.

Empowering end-users

Google’s chief Internet guru, Vint Cerf (called the “father of the Internet”) is well known for his work assisting the U.S. government in designing the Internet protocol in the 1970s and 1980s.

According to Cerf, the new research project aims to clarify the underlying causes of connection issues for Internet Users – whether it is a hardware problem, an application issue or discrimination against certain traffic types by the ISP.

The curious case of Comcast

In 2008, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set a new precedent when it upheld a complaint against Comcast. The ISP was accused of violating the FCC's open-Internet principles by blocking file-sharing services such as those that distribute video and television shows.

The case added fuel to the fire of the Net neutrality debate and Comcast is currently contesting the decision in court.

Another large cable company, Cox Communications recently announced its intention to test a plan, which gives priority to time-sensitive traffic (such as web page views and streaming videos). This would mean delays for less time-sensitive traffic, including file uploads and peer-to-peer file sharing.

Net neutrality advocates remain wary of such policies; pointing to the Comcast case as a warning to those tempted to get between users and the Internet.

What’s good for Google

Google policy analyst, Derek Slater, explained that Google has a business interest in maintaining fast and efficient Internet accessibility for its clients.

The ability of end users to access Google via their broadband connections directly affects on the company’s ability to provide innovative products – any difficulty in connecting to the Internet impacts negatively on Google’s business.

What lies beneath

“This type of research is not really new,” said Bruce Mills, Joint CEO of 3W Consulting Contracting & Recruitment Pty Ltd. “Researchers are already monitoring connection speeds and using various tools to determine whether ISPs are blocking (or throttling) certain applications. Google’s project will really be an expansion of that effort, but it still has merit.”

“Essentially, this project will allow consumers to see what’s happening beneath the skin of their Internet connections and make a more informed choice about their ISP.”