Net Neutrality: An Important Issue?

[Zinkovich]

For those unaware of what net neutrality is, I recommend you watch this video and go to the website that made it, like I just did: Free Movies & Documentaries - Save the Internet!

Now then, I would like to hear other perspectives on this issue from you guys, as I am new to this whole debate/issue- is net neutrality a big deal? Do companies have no right to these pipes, considering their origin? What could we, as citizens, do if they were to succeed in segregating the internet into seperate "lanes"?

Most of all, is it only a matter of time before the internet becomes completely commercialised in the same sense television and radio has been?

[Heather]

Quote by: Zinkovich For those unaware of what net neutrality is, I recommend you watch this video and go to the website that made it, like I just did: Free Movies & Documentaries - Save the Internet!

I myself was unaware of this, thanking you for sharing that video and bring up the subject.

Now then, I would like to hear other perspectives on this issue from you guys, as I am new to this whole debate/issue- is net neutrality a big deal? Do companies have no right to these pipes, considering their origin? What could we, as citizens, do if they were to succeed in segregating the internet into seperate "lanes"?

Yes, this seems like a big deal to me. Essentially, major ISP's are proposing that they limit the rights and freedoms of the American citizen for the sake of expanding their pocket book.

As individual citizens, we could choose to simply not use the services of ISP's who would propose such a thing. One could "unplug" their service from their ISP who is attempting or proposing to do such and send the ISP a letter letting them know why you are switching services. Hit them in the wallet (which is obviously what they care about, certainly not their consumer) and let them know why. But, obviously, this only works if a larger majority of people were to take the time and effort to do this.

[Slevin57]

I think it's an issue we need to watch closely. This is the kind of thing that gets slipped in a bill without anyone knowing and suddenly we are being charged usage rates.

The AT&T CEO has already said he see's no reason why people shouldn't be paying to use the internet that goes over AT&T's pipeline.

From a business prospective. I have to agree. Companies are missing out on a multi-billion dollar business.

Could you imagine being charged more to use websites that are farther away from your house?

But from my true perspective, I think its very important the internet stay neutral and unregulated. I know there are allot of horrible things on the internet but right now I feel the benefits of a free internet outweigh the costs.

[tman_ndsu08]

Here's a much better site to learn about the concept: Network neutrality - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


In short, any legislation that limits the ability of a company to provide a service that its customers demand is absolutely appalling and should be shot down as quickly as possible.


Any service provider should have the ability to prioritize its services as it sees fit. If the market rejects their prioritization, they go out of business and that's the end of them. Done and done.

Government legislation only ever gets in the way.

[grandpa]

If we want, we can assume that the government ought to provide monopoly status towards broadcasters (which it does) and that this is somehow part of a "free market" (that mythical thing I keep hearing about but remarkably haven't seen).

When the RIAA uses the government to try influence what people can and cannot hear on the internet, we could argue that they are simply trying to "prioritize its services as it sees fit" by suing people who somehow threaten the music industry as a whole.

But I personally think the airwaves could be managed a better way--not the FCC way, not the Time Warner way, but in a non-capitalist, non-state way.

Grandpa h.

[tman_ndsu08]

The RIAA does not provide a service. They sell goods.

[Jack]

The RIAA itself sells nothing.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is the trade group that represents the U.S. recording industry. Its mission is to foster a business and legal climate that supports and promotes our members' creative and financial vitality. In support of this mission, the RIAA works to protect intellectual property rights worldwide and the First Amendment rights of artists; conduct consumer industry and technical research; and monitor and review - - state and federal laws, regulations and policies. The RIAA also certifies Gold®, Platinum®, Multi-Platinum™, and Diamond® sales awards, and recently launched Los Premios De Oro y Platino™, a new award celebrating Latin music sales.

It's an association of record companies. It doesn't sell product any more than the NRA sells guns.

[Milton Bradley]

I had a great thread about this subject with links to PBS's NOW. ( I think it's in the Politics Folder. )


I don't think this topic illicited a lot of responses then either.


Truth is, United Statians don't seem very incined to investigate their own disenfranchisment.

[tman_ndsu08]

What do you mean by that?


Shouldn't a service provider be allowed to prioritize which services it fulfills first?

[rez]

Wow, only 8 posts a year ago. What a shame.

Time Warner Cable tries metering Internet use: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance