CALL FOR PAPERS Global Media Journal - Canadian Edition 2010: Volume 3, Issue 1 International Perspectives on Network Neutrality Guest Editors: Dr. Jeffrey Layne Blevins, Iowa State University Dr. Leslie Regan Shade, Concordia University URL for pdf and French abstract: http://www.gmj.uottawa.ca/gmj--ce_cfp_v3_i1_10.pdf The idea of “network neutrality” has become one of the most prominent policy concerns for lawmakers, telecommunications industries, media reformers, and communication scholars. In short, neutrality is the idea that Internet service providers should afford equal interconnection among content providers and users of the network, so that those who control access to the network do not censor lawful content or enact discriminatory routing of content. The outcome of this debate has significant implications for the participatory-democratic nature of the Internet, the free flow of information and speech, user’s privacy rights, Internet governance, efficacy of independent media, and political participation, as well the continued vitality of libraries and educational systems. Given these stakes, network neutrality may well be the telecommunication policy issue of the 21st Century. In North America, battles over network neutrality have already emerged in Canada and the United States. While mobilization for network neutrality has been slower in Canada than in the United States, in the last year alone activism has taken many forms, including online and offline actions and politicizing a range of citizens and policy-makers. Canada’s media regulator, the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), has issued a call for network neutrality and is holding a public hearing on issues related to traffic management in July 2009. Proponents of network neutrality in the United States scored their biggest victory to date when President Barack Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which included language supporting neutrality principles as part its Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. Nevertheless, any subsequent legislation seeking comprehensive enforcement of network neutrality will surely face intense opposition. This issue will spotlight international perspectives on network neutrality that encompass such themes as empire, network economics, technological innovation, telecommunication regulation and corporate control. Any analytical approach is welcome, including comparative studies, telecommunication policy analysis, media studies, ethical examination, political economic critique, as well as others. Potential topics could include, but are not limited to the following: --public awareness and activism about net neutrality --ethical perspectives on network neutrality --neutrality as a telecommunication policy norm --network neutrality and Internet governance --the relationship of network neutrality to other areas of communication law --consumer disenfranchisement/power without network neutrality --media ownership and network neutrality --industry trends that may undermine, or support neutrality --technologies that may undermine or support network neutrality --examination of the relationships between competing broadband networks --media discourses on network neutrality --network neutrality and impact on library and education sector --network neutrality and impact on independent media sector The Global Media Journal -- Canadian Edition (http://www.gmj.uottawa.ca/) welcomes high-quality, original submissions on related topics to the above theme. Submissions are expected to develop communication and media theories, report empirical and analytical research, present critical discourses, apply theories to case studies, and set out innovative research methodologies. The Journal is bilingual (English and French) open-access online academic refereed publication that aims to advance research and understanding of communication and media in Canada and around the globe. Deadline: March 15th, 2010 Submissions: Papers (5,000 to 7,500 words), review articles of more than one book (2,500 to 3,000 words), and book reviews (1,000 to 1,200 words). Method: All manuscripts must be submitted electronically as Word Document attachments, directly to Dr. Jeffrey Layne Blevins (blevins@iastate.edu) or Dr. Leslie Regan Shade (lshade@alcor.concordia.ca). Guidelines: Available at: http://www.gmj.uottawa.ca/for-authors_e.html Decision: April 30th, 2010 Publication: June 15th, 2010