Privatized Internet??

[Revgen]

It seems like the big corporations who control the webtraffic and the Internet backbones are trying to find a way to privatize it. Companies like Cisco, Verizon, Bellsouth, Comcast and other giants want to take away a free and "open" internet and charge "access levels", like "Platinum", "Gold", "Silver" and "Basic". Just like they do with Cable TV. They seem to be trying to lobby U.S. politicians into agreeing with them.

Needless to say, this pisses me off.

Here's the article: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060213/chester

[johnhamler1]

they can't, I own the net!!!

and I dont sell it!

[Dayvon]

This is the worst idea evar..... Death to all who support it!!!!

[DigitAl56K]

Companies like Cisco, Verizon, Bellsouth, Comcast and other giants want to take away a free and "open" internet and charge "access levels", like "Platinum", "Gold", "Silver" and "Basic". Just like they do with Cable TV. They seem to be trying to lobby U.S. politicians into agreeing with them.

Lobby all the most popular/highest traffic web sites and services to block these ISPs entirely. Form a coallition against tiering. This way if you're using a tiered provider, no matter which it is, your Internet experience is worse. People will naturally move to non-tiered providers.

We pay for access to the pipe and bandwidth in our monthly subscriptions. Higher speed connections already cost us more, there is no need or reason to place further restrictions or additional tiering on this model. It will only serve to disadvantage the poorest among us even further.

If the worst came to pass in the US, everyone could chip in $100 to become part of/establish a citizen-run ISP, or else new businesses would likely spring up supporting non-tiered models. WiMax enables both of these things with relative ease. It would be a strong competitive offering if you only paid to maintain, expand and improve the architecture, rather than being raped for profit each month (I pay $50/mo just for cable Internet, what a joke).

[Mug Funky]

this is why privatisation is dangerous and deregulation is more so.

though i'm not sure this would work - it restricts free speech, so i doubt it'll be allowed in the land of the free. as for "lands of the not-so-free", well their internet traffic is already quite tightly controlled.

the idea gives me the jibblies though. i can imagine it happening sooner or later :(

[Revgen]

Don't underestimate what these companies can do. They are very good at advertising. I wouldn't be surprised if the telecom's come up with an excuses like:


1) Security. They might say that they'll need to keep tabs on users to provide security against hackers and track terrorists. They may even try to make politicians believe that these efforts will help to curb viruses and worms.

2) Innovation. They might say that the prices they'll charge can make the internet more robust and more innovative. They'll give a demonstration of what it can do.

3) Crime. They might claim that it will be easier to track child predators who prey on children. They'll also claim that credit card fraud will be less likely to occur.


Don't underestimate the power of dumb politicians or politicians being paid to play.

I wouldn't be surprised if the "average joe" actually believes these arguments posted above.

This is what I'm afraid of.

[Lil' Jer]

though i'm not sure this would work - it restricts free speech, so i doubt it'll be allowed in the land of the free.

If only I could be that optimistic. With the kind of crap corporations are allowed to get away with in this day and age I can see this easily being allowed by the FCC and Congress.

[Latexxx]

If only I could be that optimistic. With the kind of crap corporations are allowed to get away with in this day and age I can see this easily being allowed by the FCC and Congress.
At least the FCC don't want to allow that : http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/07/ces_fcc_wsj/

[Lil' Jer]

At least the FCC don't want to allow that : http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/07/ces_fcc_wsj/

If push comes to shove I hope the members on the board of the FCC have the balls to stand up against this crap. The internet is one of the greatest inventions in the last couple of decades and it should be protected at all costs for the benefit of the public against such attacks by corporations.

[Neo Neko]

Apparently unfortunatly ever since Dodge Vs. Ford Motor company being in a corporation is all about maximizing profit. As such morals, ethics, and public stewardship have ever since been ignored or eliminated from most activities. Because if as a CEO or other coporate officer you had any moral or ethical "flaws" that kept you from maximizing shareholder profits you would loose your job if they found out. They don't really care about puppies, kittens, or underprivelaged youth. And the only interest they have in green is that it is often the color of money.

Stepping back this was inevitable and we should have seen it coming for some time now. When it all started the internet was just for institutions and the biggest geeks. No real money to be made from it. Mostly a side project that many of these companies dabbled in and most of their shareholders didn't understand. So it was that the internet was left largely alone to bloom in full. Untill today where the network has become an essential and insepperable part of many peoples lives. Millions of consumers have entered the equation. The shareholders now sense what they think is low lying fruit and feign that they actually now know what the internet is and what it will bear. They want to squeeze it of every last drop. Any CEO etc would be fired for neglegence if they did not pursue this.

Having said that. This is shere stupidity of nearly the same calliber as the MPAA/RIAA. They now want to ring the neck of the goose that laid the golden egg. All so that they can get ritch quick on investments that have already paid for themselves several times over. And all without investing further in expanding network coverage or bandwidth. Ok so it is basically the exact same scenario. The new bubble if you will. Housing market eat your heart out.

If they go through with this at least one of a few things will happen. Discerning users will all switch to ISPs that don't wish to practice highway robbery or rape. This includes consumers and service providers. Also Google has been buying up alot of dark fiber recently. They might pull a "mozilla" and set up a real honest to godness up to date moddern and unrestricted ISP of their own to buck the status quo. And therein keep these companies from being sucessfull in their ambitions. And last but not least with technology like wi-max in the pipeline communities may say "up the network" and make their own. I know I will regardless. ;)