Who do they think they are, cable TV providers?
The free, unrestricted internet as we know it is under threat. Britain’s leading ISPs are attempting to construct a two-tier internet, where websites and services that are willing to pay are thrust into the “fast lane”, while those that don’t are left fighting for scraps of bandwidth or even blocked outright. They’re not so much ripping up the cherished notion of net neutrality as pouring petrol over the pieces and lighting the match. The only question is: can they get away with it?
This WILL happen here and already IS happening because the FCC fails to enforce what was law and is now being dismantled in favor of companies who pay more money (to congress) than consumers can afford.
Time to rip them up like the corrupt predecessor the the FAA way back when.
At some point, internet service will come in over its own fiber, owned and operated by a utility, just like electricity.
It will be regulated just like the power corporation.
It will require some drastic changes to the ownership structures (ComCast et alia will have to be convinced to get out of providing the service [jail term are usually effective.])
That will happen inevitably when ISP overstep their authority and cut off the wrong person, like NOT providing access to the NFL at superbowl time.
I’ll be dead by then but it is going to happen.
They’ve barely scratched the surface. I can see advertising companies paying ISPs to lock out their competitors’ ads, GM paying to block not only Ford’s ads, but their web sites as well — or what the heck, any website that mentions the word Ford whatsoever. Movie companies will pay to block bad reviews. Coke will pay to block Pepsi and vice-versa, Microsoft will deny licenses not only to ISPs that use Linux or BSD, but to any that allow traffic to or from computers that run those OSes. (MacOS too? Maybe.) Food and drug companies will pay to block the FDA and anyone promoting healthy foods or lifestyles.
When the unfiltered Internet is outlawed, only outlaws will have unfiltered Internet!
it was announced last night that that the bbc will be forced to make massive cuts to its web site witch as a license fee payer i have all ready paid for.the bbc is the cited as the single reason why news corp. have completely failed with its subscription only news sites.i also pay my isp to deliver this content to me.if they are going to charge web sites for access are they stop charging me? news corp. are also one of the largest isp’s in Briton .is it me but i think i see a plan coming together that involves me having to pay a lot more money for my news. how much longer will it be before the only catch-up tv i can access will be able to get will come from news corp.for a large fee
Verizon sues to stop net-neutrality rules it suggested only five months ago, and they were pretty watered down and weak to begin with. Yea Big Corps!
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward/2011/01/verizon_doesnt_like_net-neutra.html