Net Neutrality Policy

Purpose

The purpose of this Net Neutrality Policy is to affirm VONet's commitment to an open and fair internet by ensuring all data on the network is treated equally, without discrimination, restriction, or interference. This policy reflects the principles of the Network Commons License and supports VONet’s mission to provide a community-owned, non-commercial, and accessible internet infrastructure for all residents of Las Vegas.

Scope

This policy applies to all users, node hosts, volunteers, and contributors of the VONet network, including all services operating over the infrastructure.

Guiding Principles

VONet upholds the following net neutrality principles:

No Blocking

VONet will not block access to any lawful content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices.

No Throttling

VONet will not intentionally slow down or degrade access to any lawful content, applications, or services based on source, destination, or content type.

No Paid Prioritization

VONet will not accept payment or donations in exchange for prioritizing specific content, services, or websites over others.

Transparency

All network management practices, performance metrics, and routing decisions will be published openly and clearly.

Network Management

Limited traffic shaping may be applied **only** in the following cases:

• To preserve the overall health and performance of the network.
• To prioritize real-time communications (e.g., voice, video calls) over delay-tolerant data.
• To mitigate security threats (e.g., DDoS attacks, spam, malware).
• To ensure equitable access for all users.

All such practices must be:

• Minimal
• Transparent
• Justified by operational needs
• Documented and available to the public

User Responsibilities

All users of the VONet network agree to:

• Comply with the terms of the Network Commons License.
• Avoid any activity that degrades the experience of other users.
• Secure their devices and personal systems.
• Use the network respectfully and responsibly, honoring its open nature.

Enforcement

Violations of this policy may result in:

• Temporary suspension of access
• Revocation of participation privileges
• Review by the VONet Advisory Council

Resolution of disputes will follow a transparent, community-based process aligned with the Network Commons principles.

Relationship to the Network Commons License

This Net Neutrality Policy is an operational extension of the Network Commons License, which already prohibits profit-based interference and mandates fairness, transparency, and open access. All practices outlined herein are aligned with the License’s core tenets, especially:

• Freedom to use the network without interference.
• Freedom to know how the network functions.
• Freedom to offer and use services under mutual consent.
• The obligation to extend access under the same fair and neutral conditions.

Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner if needed. Amendments must be published for community comment and ratified by the Advisory Council.