Topic: Net Neutrality in danger in the US

[Morslok]

I was casually browsing http://www.nuklearpower.com/ today (the home of Brian Clevinger's Webcomic 8-Bit Theater) and came across an update on his site.  In this update was fairly disturbing news, the internet and the freedom it entails are under attack!  While the situation may not be quite that dramatic, it is something to look into and something that people should be made aware of.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1953085,00.asp
That is an article that will explain what's happening.
http://www.savetheinternet.com/
This is the website of the people who are trying to stop this from happening.

[Krakow Sam]

Oooooh! Conspiracy! An evil secret organisation is trying to subvert the internet and prevent the formation of a linked human race, with unlimited shared knowledge...

Or to put it another way: I'm not entirely sure from reading that article exactly what freedoms are being restricted here.

[Morslok]

Go here to see how this might affect you: http://www.savetheinternet.com/=threat

[Krakow Sam]

Ooookay, now thats nice and clear... isnt that hugely illegal?

[Morslok]

Not if they make it legal 

Also, so as people can make an informed decision, I am posting this link to another group who is of the opposing opinion:
http://www.handsofftheinternet.com/

[/lurk]

Isn't that the same opinion?

In any case, how does this affect me, not living in America as I do?

[Morslok]

/lurk, you are correct, this doesn't affect you at all, so... Okay.

No those are not the same, if you read the first few sites I put up, they are saying that Network Neutrality should be enforced by the government.  The fourth site says that the government ought not interfere. (Also on the second link posted, they make reference to the fourth link as a Public Relations front for the telecommunications companies.)

Edit: changed the name of the thread to better inform the involved parties.

Edit2: Just found this on the second link:

Why is this campaign not on internationall level? The US does not = internet does it?

andrisig, I don’t think anyone believes that this is a US problem only. But this campaign is focused recent moves by US telecom and cable companies to challenge the net neutrality and end-to-end principles in the US Congress.

Certainly we would all agree that there are important international fights to be fought as well. But this specific effort is aimed at the US government, which as you know, is responsible for much of the management of internet resources.

Link: http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2006/04/22/bloggers-hail-coalition%e2%80%99s-call-for-net-freedom/#comments

[/lurk]

Ah, I see. Thankyou.

[Aybraus]

There's no way a group of phone companies can control the internet unless they hold your internet connection hostage.

In which case we won't give them money.

[Daxx]

What exactly is the problem here? Why aren't the telecommunication companies allowed to determine what services they do and do not provide?

[Aybraus]

I think the real problem here is that we don't have publicly provided internet access yet.  It was promised 6 years ago, wasn't it?

[ilikesanta]

I think Portland Oregon has city wide wi-fi service, for a fee or at least working to get it up soon. Kaze can you comfirm this?

Free the information, knowlege is power, don't let the man take a way your power!!!!

[Leng]

daxx the problem is that they would deny the user the ability to connect (at least at any reasonable speed) to their competitors, or to sites that didn't pay them a fee.  also this wouldn't only apply to the immediate service provider, but to routers and connecting lines that the company owned.

[Daxx]

So why is that a problem? Surely a company can choose the service it provides? They are providing these lines at their own cost. You wouldn't deny them the ability to control their service, would you?

Internet connectivity is a privilege granted you by a multitude of people working together, any of whom are perfectly entitled to do as they like. You have no intrinsic right to an internet connection beyond a contracted service.

[/lurk]

Television connection is a privelege granted to you by a multiple of people. Why should they be allowed to determine what you watch?

This would be like blocking out competing channels on your TV.