We control the bandwidth.

[ImaginalDisc]

I won't comment on this latest development, I just wanted to bring it to your attention.

http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/31753/

The nation's largest telephone and cable companies are crafting an alarming set of strategies that would transform the free, open and nondiscriminatory Internet of today to a privately run and branded service that would charge a fee for virtually everything we do online.

Verizon, Comcast, Bell South and other communications giants are developing strategies that would track and store information on our every move in cyberspace in a vast data-collection and marketing system, the scope of which could rival the National Security Agency.

 

[WildCat]

I want to be the first to say "all your internet are belong to us".

I doubt that idea would fly, and even if it did there's other ways to get internet that involve neither phone nor cable - such as satellite broadband which is already available (though currently much slower).

But it won't happen, people won't put up w/ that crap.

 

[Kopji]

I dunno. I can see the internet becoming more like a power distribution system. There might be a 'residential' level of service, and then more pricey ones with features. If I want to use the 'free and open' internet to help run my business but politicians are chewing up bandwidth with spam, why should I suffer just because they have something to say?

A more market driven kind of internet does not bother me that much. Businesses understand that some Bohemianism is great for business. That might really shock some people.

Another point is that all the junk mail we receive is a form of marketing - BAD and WASTEFUL marketing. After all, I don't call stuff I actually want to read junk mail. If a more market oriented internet helped reduce the level of junk mail I get, that would be good.

If the cable companies want to watch everything we do, there will arise companies to block them from doing that, that seems the way of free markets. People who don't care who is watching may be happy with a more basic level of service.

Does that sound too awful? I like the Wild West-ness of the internet but also see its flaws.

Treating all traffic exactly the same is not really being fair to anyone, just like treating all people exactly the same is not.



This was an interesting link from the site:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/giants/index.html

 

[The Fool]

Maybe they could look at separating off all porn and pirate music traffic. This would leave the remaining 3% of bandwidth for other users to fight over.

 

[Zep]

As long as my level of spam, and offers to have my breasts and penis lengthened in Nigeria, decrease, I don't give a rats.

 

[Godmode]

But it won't happen, people won't put up w/ that crap.

Woah, flashback...that's exactly what I said about Bush getting re-elected. I was wrong. Never underestimate the ability of the people to ignore what's going on.