The Beginning of the End

[Cuchulain]

'For years, Internet advocates have warned of the doomsday scenario that will play out on Monday: Google and Verizon will announce a deal that the New York Times reports (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/technology/05secret.html?_r=1&hp) "could allow Verizon to speed some online content to Internet users more quickly if the content's creators are willing to pay for the privilege."
The deal marks the beginning of the end of the Internet as you know it. Since its beginnings, the Net was a level playing field that allowed all content to move at the same speed, whether it's ABC News or your uncle's video blog. That's all about to change, and the result couldn't be more bleak for the future of the Internet, for television, radio and independent voices.'
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-silver/google-verizon-deal-the-e_b_671617.html

So how are we going to feel when HA takes forever to load? Click the link and add your voice today. http://www.savetheinternet.com/

[dderek123]

'For years, Internet advocates have warned of the doomsday scenario that will play out on Monday: Google and Verizon will announce a deal that the New York Times reports (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/technology/05secret.html?_r=1&hp) "could allow Verizon to speed some online content to Internet users more quickly if the content's creators are willing to pay for the privilege."
The deal marks the beginning of the end of the Internet as you know it. Since its beginnings, the Net was a level playing field that allowed all content to move at the same speed, whether it's ABC News or your uncle's video blog. That's all about to change, and the result couldn't be more bleak for the future of the Internet, for television, radio and independent voices.'
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-silver/google-verizon-deal-the-e_b_671617.html

So how are we going to feel when HA takes forever to load? Click the link and add your voice today. http://www.savetheinternet.com/

This fucking sucks.

[DaveinBoston]

This has been a concern for at least the last 3 or 4 years. It isnt 'new' and isnt exactly true. FCC is all over it...

http://www.pcworld.com/article/202636/net_neutrality_deal_may_not_see_wider_support.html

[Cuchulain]

This has been a concern for at least the last 3 or 4 years. It isnt 'new' and isnt exactly true. FCC is all over it...

http://www.pcworld.com/article/202636/net_neutrality_deal_may_not_see_wider_support.html

Yes, this has been an issue for awhile, and it's finally coming to a head. Assurances from industry bigshots don't carry a lot of weight. I trust them about as far as I could throw a Buick. These guys lie for a living. Watching any of them testify before Congress demonstrates that clearly. The FCC is hardly 'all over it'. In speech to cable executives 'Mr. Genachowski talked about the FCC’s commitment to taking a narrow approach to cable regulation and about willingness to find a solution for cable-industry concerns.' - http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2010/05/13/live-blogging-the-fcc-chairman-on-the-future-of-media/tab/liveblog/

Here's the Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/technology/05secret.html?_r=2&hp

If you read the article in my first post, you can see that Google themselves said it in 2006: "Today the Internet is an information highway where anybody - no matter how large or small, how traditional or unconventional - has equal access. But the phone and cable monopolies, who control almost all Internet access, want the power to choose who gets access to high-speed lanes and whose content gets seen first and fastest. They want to build a two-tiered system and block the on-ramps for those who can't pay."

The communication companies are all about making money. Let's not imagine they're filled with goodwill and the milk of human kindness, and our beloved government has a bad habit of bowing to pressure from Big Money lobbyists. None of these big mergers ever work out to benefit consumers. All of us who use the net need to keep the pressure on the FCC. Public outcry is a powerful thing. Spend two minutes and sign the damn petition.

[BellaBellucci]

I've been signing these petitions for years. I think everyone else should too.

Defend Net Neutrality.

~BB~

[Amsterdamage]

the internet will be marginalized more n more in the future. governments are starting to doom the internet as 'evil', 'dangerous', etc...because ppl can access info more easily and put up less n less with all the shit governments want to push through.

so yeah, we're screwed, once again :)

[flabbybody]

what scares me most is how our web habits are monitored by corporate giants in the name of marketing

[Helvis2012]

Bad scene. And some people think they're free in America!

[thx1138]

Google denies: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/google_pushes_back_on_times_report_of_verizon_deal .php?ref=fpi

[Crawler]

what scares me most is how our web habits are monitored by corporate giants in the name of marketing


Well there's the intrigue once it's sold to the highest bidder that I clicked on Morgan Bailey's video's like a hamster on meth. Nice topic for interviews.

[scroller]

This particular story is likely bad reporting by the NYTimes. Bloomberg news reported exactly the opposite the same day, Google & Verizon directly denied it, it would be a 180-degree policy flip for Google, etc. More likely is that they're coming to an agreement to NOT allow preferred carriage, excepting Verizon wireless phone service.

However, I agree any agreement for preferred service would be a terrible thing and something we should continue to resist wholeheartedly.