FCC and the internet

[Michael Haney]

<snipped several conversations>

The FCC's proposed Net Neutrality rules would do the following ...

*  Force ISPs to treat all Internet based traffic equally, thus one
service cannot get preferential treatment while the others get limited
bandwidth.  Like Comcrap giving more bandwidth to their own video
streaming service (which is in beta) and limiting bandwidth for
Youtube, Hulu, and others.  Would also stop traffic-shaping and other
such practices with Bittorrent and other P2P services which have
legitimate uses.  If the FCC get their way, which is likely at this
point, these rules would also apply to Internet connections via cell
phones.  AT&T and Apple had better pay attention.

*  Require ISPs to disclosed "hidden" details about their service.
Meaning, if they have Bandwidth Caps what these are must be clearly
spelled out.  With this information out in the open customers will
without a doubt flock to the ISPs that don't have such caps (ie;
Verizon FiOS) and thus the other ISPs will be forced to end such
practices if they want to compete.  That's how our market works, or at
least it should.

Sprint was already fined for calling their data plan Unlimited when in
the fine print it is anything but.  WalMart's Straight Talk could be
next to get fined for calling itunlimited when it really isn't.

Additionally, there is a Bill in Congress which "shockingly" has
enormous bipartisan support would ban Bandwidth Caps.  Here's an older
URL about the Bill which is in Congress right now.
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/04/congressman-to/

Net Neutrality would ...
*  Open the doors to new innovation, like the OnLive cloud-gaming
service that's in beta right now, and others which we haven't seen
yet.  None of which would be possible if the status quo remains.
*  Give VCs incentive to invest in online companies because the even
playing field would mean that they can all fairly compete with each
other, and if the ISPs want to compete they'll have to play by the
same rules.  Its good for consumers and help grow the economy.

What it does not do is ...

*  Does NOT give control of the Internet to the government.

*  Does NOT give the government the power to censor the Internet.

-- 
Michael "TheZorch" Haney
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