. >> host: professor tom hazlett, what's net neutrality? >> guest: it's a series of regulations on broadband internet providers that limit what your service provider provides you access to the internet presumably with high-speed service can cowith business models models and pric. so the idea of the net neutrality rules is to limit the reach or scope of your local transport network that hooks you up, takes you to the internet in terms of your data traffic and allow you, the customer, to access any kind of application or content without the discretion of the broadband provider involved. so it's, basically, rules or regulations that limit the business models and packaging of your local broadband company. >> host: well, in december 2010 fcc commissioner michael copps said allowing gigantic corporations to exercise unfettered control over americans' access to the internet not only creates risks to technological innovation and economic growth, but it poses a real threat to freedom of speech and the future of our democracy. do you agree with his s

. >> tom hazlett is a professor of law and economics here at george mason university. and he's director of the information economy project at the law school. what is the information economy project? >> well, we're an academic program to try to use the rules of laws and economics to analyze public policy issues in the information sector. and we have academic studies, conferences, and lectures by noted academics, business people and innovators in the media world. >> and you've written about cable tv and public policy. >> yes. >> this is your newest book just coming out "the fallacy of net neutrality." is this a republican-democrat issue supporting or opposing net neutrality? >> well, in some -- in some respects you could make an argument certainly -- i think network neutrality became part of the democratic party platform a few years ago but the democratic party is split on it. there's significant members of congress who are democrats who are generally very hostile to net neutrality. and, you know, the republicans are more unified on that but certainly some of the policie