question&answer
answer the question 100-200word.Please note that these are not essay questions, they are short answers. You do not need to write introductions or conclusions. You do not need to restate the question or include quotes from lectures or specific references to readings. Your answers should be direct and clear. Please be careful to answer all the parts of each question. Your answers should be between 100 and 200 words. There is a 300 word maximum.
Remember that the purpose of this class is to assess your mastery of course content. Your ability to look up terms and examples online and provide technically correct answers will not be rewarded. In contrast, your demonstrated familiarity with the lectures, readings, and discussions will be rewarded.
Sample Question:
What is a common carrier? Provide a real-life example of a regulation on a common carrier. What was the justification for this regulation? How and/or why has the common carrier classification been an issue in debates over net neutrality? What is at least one possible impact of net neutrality rules on media or society?
A-Range Answer:
A common carrier provides or transports something the public needs, and so the government requires them to deliver that service or product to everyone. A phone line is a common carrier because it helps connect people to each other and to vital services. Accordingly, the government regulates phone companies in order to ensure theyre fulfilling their public duty. A major question in the net neutrality debate is whether the FCC has the right to regulate ISPs. If ISPs are classified as common carriers (which they were under Obama), the government can regulate them. If not, the government cant. Without net neutrality rules, independent websites and platforms may not be able to access fast connection speeds, and thus wont have a chance to compete with established Internet companies.
(This answer is correct and shows a full mastery of the issues. It is not a long or complicated answer. It doesnt have extra explanatory sentences, or an introductory or concluding sentence. But the writer has used their own words to describe the concepts. Theyve applied those concepts to a real-life example appropriately, and explained the significance of the example in relation to course themes.)
