End Of Net Neutrality?

[f1seb]

Very interesting developments in the geeky world of the internet. New York Times have reported that 2 companies Google and Verizon have been holding meetings (negotiations) between one another that would actively be the road map to ending net neutrality and changing the internet as we know it. In short what this means is that it would be the beginning of "metered internet access." People using more bandwith would have to pay more money or premium fees just like with some cell phone providers and their data networks.

Naturally both companies have denied that the meetings are about that particular issue but they are not saying also what they're negotiating(scheming....) about. Current Google stand on Net Neutrality...

http://www.google.com/help/netneutrality_letter.html

Not the first time though where big corporations have lied to the public...after all they don't have to tell us anything, and as it says in their fine print they can change virtually anything about their services without even giving you any notice.

Most articles now are running with the headline of Google and Verizon both denying these claims. So the not so evil company (Google) possibly becoming one of the most evil companies in the end? It's fun to speculate, any thoughts?

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-0 ... affic.html

[Zydeco]

s*** id be piss pot poor if I had to pay be the meg or how every they will charge people if this changes.

[PoorManQ45]

It's not true, Google would never lie to its users!

[Dittoz7]

Highly doubtful, until I see AT&T in the mix.

[Urabus GodofTraction]

Google is not the begin company the OP assumes they are. They're in it to win it.

That said, Google runs my life, so I'm ok with it.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

Did they steal this idea from Activision? Sounds like something straight out of the Activision/Atari playbook.

*If you don't understand where I'm going with that then you have been living in a cave, or don't follow video games at all.

[MinisterofDOOM]

That said, Google runs my life, so I'm ok with it.

With the number of google tools and devices I use daily, without much thought, I'd like to think they're not evil. But I can't.
Fortunately, they seem to have the right ideas a lot of the time, so even if we do get stuck browsing the Googlenets, they'll probably work really well.

[RCA]

Verizon took Google to court, why would they be working with each other?

If Net Neutrality goes, it will be a sad, sad day. 2 or 3 major corps are in charge of everything we see on TV, and if they can their hands on the web, we are screwed. The only forum of media we have free reign over will be gone. But providers like Verizon and Comcast all ready have ways around the over usage of bandwidth. Verizon hardware (router/modem combo) only allows a certain amount of connections so you can't torrent as fast as you should, also Comcast just flat out throttles bandwidth.

I am not huge into politics but we as a generation of web users need to do all that we can to allow net neutrality to live on.


PETITION: STAND WITH ME TO SAVE NET NEUTRALITY AND STOP THE CORPORATE TAKEOVER OF OUR MEDIA

[PoorManQ45]

Verizon hardware (router/modem combo) only allows a certain amount of connections so you can't torrent as fast as you should, also Comcast just flat out throttles bandwidth.

Look in to changing out the Fios router. It's usually an actiontec. If there's an ethernet cable and a coax going to it already it's simply a matter of releasing the DHCP Lease, unplug ethernet, plug into router of your choice on Wan port, log in, renew lease.

Once this is done, to retain TV functions you plug in the Actiontec in to one of the ports on the new router.

Combine this DDWRT or Tomato on your new router and you're set.

[f1seb]

Verizon took Google to court, why would they be working with each other?

If Net Neutrality goes, it will be a sad, sad day. 2 or 3 major corps are in charge of everything we see on TV, and if they can their hands on the web, we are screwed. The only forum of media we have free reign over will be gone. But providers like Verizon and Comcast all ready have ways around the over usage of bandwidth. Verizon hardware (router/modem combo) only allows a certain amount of connections so you can't torrent as fast as you should, also Comcast just flat out throttles bandwidth.

I am not huge into politics but we as a generation of web users need to do all that we can to allow net neutrality to live on.


PETITION: STAND WITH ME TO SAVE NET NEUTRALITY AND STOP THE CORPORATE TAKEOVER OF OUR MEDIA

Just because companies are suing one another means absolutely nothing. Especially when you have 2 huge corporations with seemingly endless pockets doing it. They can stay suing each other for years and then all of a sudden to an about face and stop and reconcile.

What makes me nervous here is that one of the worlds biggest content providers and one of the biggest internet service providers are holding meetings about something......

Most people do not know that but the cable companies even the ones who are suing one another also hold regular "media summits" with one another. Imagine Time Warner, Comcast, Cablevision, and Verizon in the same room, holding talks. They don't really hate each other.

[Mr1der]

That said, Google runs my life, so I'm ok with it.

With the number of google tools and devices I use daily, without much thought, I'd like to think they're not evil. But I can't.
Fortunately, they seem to have the right ideas a lot of the time, so even if we do get stuck browsing the Googlenets, they'll probably work really well.

Hitler had to win over Germany.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

At least you can still listen to the radio for free...

[HashiriyaS14]

IMO, it will be very difficult for them to remake the internet retroactively.

Just like with attempts by the RIAA to stamp out free sharing of music, it's very difficult for any single party to "lock down" anything online. Someone will always find a way around anything.

Granted, if the actual ISP's charge per usage, no one can stop them, but that doesn't specifically pertain to net neutrality.

Additionally, if any meaningful incursions on neutrality are made, expect Federal intervention, at least from the current adminisstration.

[themadscientist]

Federal applause you mean. The government hates how free the internet is.

The United States federal government wishes it could be this easy for them.

UAE Blackberry update was spyware
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8161190.stm

That backfired so they are just cutting service altogether.

Emirates to Cut Data Services of BlackBerry
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/busin ... berry.html

Your easy access to information is a direct threat to those that wield power over your lives. View any move against your access in the proper significance.

[RCA]

Holy sh*t...

f1seb was right.


Here is a run down of the new Google / Verizon talks.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/09/goog ... explained/

[Chaotic_Warlord]

Federal applause you mean. The government hates how free the internet is.

The United States federal government wishes it could be this easy for them.

The U.S. Government has been trying to impose taxes ( not just sales tax, but also income tax and a variety of other taxes) on the internet for years, since Clinton was in office.

[Urabus GodofTraction]

Additionally, if any meaningful incursions on neutrality are made, expect Federal intervention, at least from the current adminisstration.

I see you've mixed up a new batch of Kool-Aid.

Obama's blown his political load, and will be lucky to accomplish anything else while he's still in office. Unless he manages to convince everyone he's the reason behind what would be a quicker than I'm expecting economic recovery.

Blah blah blah wasting trillions of taxpayer's pretend money blah blah blah.

[HashiriyaS14]

Insomuch as I'm aware, the FCC is pretty committed to net neutrality.

Additionally, Democratic administrations tend to be pretty consumer-protection oriented (gives them the opportunity to make new laws, weeeeeeee!!), and at heart net neutrality is a consumer protection issue. It's also a personal freedoms issue, near and dear to many conservatives, and thus it is one of the rare subjects that can garner substantial support on both sides of the aisle. Furthermore, almost NO private voter is *against* net neutrality if they understand what it is, regardless of party.

Finally, net neutrality is the status quo at present, not something that needs to "happen". For Google or anyone else to change the situation, THEY would have to get legislation passed, not the other way around. This is incredibly unlikely.