Utopia Talk / Politics / Net Neutrality

American Democrat Member	Tue Nov 21 04:20:41 Net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers and governments regulating most of the Internet must treat all data on the Internet the same, and not discriminate or charge differentially by user, content, website, platform, application, type of attached equipment, or method of communication.[1] For instance, under these principles, internet service providers are unable to intentionally block, slow down or charge money for specific websites and online content. Who is trying to end it? Trump Administration WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission is preparing a full repeal of net neutrality rules that require broadband providers to give consumers equal access to all content on the internet, putting more power in the hands of those companies to dictate people’s online experiences. Ajit Pai, the chairman of the F.C.C., plans to reveal a sweeping proposal to scrap the net neutrality rules on Tuesday, according to two people familiar with the plan, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the details are not public. The rules, created during the Obama administration, prohibit broadband providers from blocking, slowing down or charging more for the delivery of certain internet content. The proposal will be presented in a December meeting of F.C.C. commissioners and is expected to pass in a 3-to-2 vote along party lines. A rollback of net neutrality regulations would represent a significant victory for broadband and telecom companies like AT&T and Comcast and would amount to a strike against consumers. When the rules were passed in 2015, they underlined the importance of high-speed internet to the lives of Americans and the need to more strongly regulate the communications service like a utility, as essential as electricity and the telephone. But under a repeal, companies like AT&T and Comcast may be able to charge people higher fees to access certain websites and online services. The companies may also be able to prioritize their own services while disadvantaging websites run by rivals. Mr. Pai plans to accompany the repeal of net neutrality with several other measures that will also benefit broadband companies, said the people with knowledge of the matter. That includes suggesting that the Federal Trade Commission, which has traditionally not brought many cases, be the enforcement agency of net neutrality violations, they said. Continue reading the main story Related Coverage F.C.C. Chairman Pushes Sweeping Changes to Net Neutrality Rules APRIL 26, 2017 Net Neutrality Is Trump’s Next Target, Administration Says MARCH 30, 2017 Trump’s F.C.C. Pick Quickly Targets Net Neutrality Rules FEB. 5, 2017 Advertisement Continue reading the main story In addition, Mr. Pai plans to reverse a decision from the Obama administration that declared broadband be treated like a utility, the people said. That classification had opened the door to many more regulations for broadband providers. The F.C.C. did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the repeal plans. Consumer groups and Democrats denounced the proposed changes. http://www...fcc-repeal-net-neutrality.html
swordtail Anarchist Prime	Tue Nov 21 08:51:15 Internet Comment Etiquette: "Net Neutrality" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggasfCOmQK8
Forwyn Member	Tue Nov 21 10:23:04 "But under a repeal, companies like AT&T and Comcast may be able to charge people higher fees to access certain websites and online services. The companies may also be able to prioritize their own services while disadvantaging websites run by rivals." Did this happen before 2015?
hood Member	Tue Nov 21 10:34:04 Yes. There was well documented degredation of Netflix performance on many providers that magically disappeared once Netflix paid those providers. Companies like Comcast most definitely had their own streaming offerings at the time. Pretty clear case.
Forwyn Member	Tue Nov 21 10:49:10 I don't particularly have a problem with Netflix paying extra to reflect their massive bandwidth share that spiked in a relatively short amount of time - it's doubtful that investors in 1997 anticipated Netflix accounting for over a third of all North America bandwidth twenty years later. Naturally, if it's out of a desire to push their own shitty streaming services, instead of improving the network with the help of the largest content providers, they should get the curbstomp.
hood Member	Tue Nov 21 10:58:43 The short answer to this is that you're wrong, stupid, and this has been covered before. And you made these wrong arguments last time (which is why you are now stupid).
Forwyn Member	Tue Nov 21 11:02:08 I don't believe I've ever argued the merits one way or the other here, so you can go fuck yourself. A quick google search reveals a few comments on regulations creating monopolies. http://www...&thread=70601&showdeleted=true
Pillz Member	Tue Nov 21 11:31:46 Might as well make cities with more power usage pay utilities an additional fee because they stress the network... Or maybe big, energy hungry businesses can pay to make sure they don't have blackouts. Their fault after all for using more then their neighbor
Forwyn Member	Tue Nov 21 11:45:23 Cities and states are already enabling massive utility profits by restricting competition. But yes, large businesses pay more when they use more. The meters aren't there for decoration.
Forwyn Member	Tue Nov 21 11:57:56 I will say, as I've said before, that free market rules cannot completely apply when enforced monopolies like TWC and Comcast are allowed to become sole providers.
hood Member	Tue Nov 21 12:33:46 Forwyn: Should you pay the internet bill for Google because you sometimes do a Google search? What about when you watch YouTube? Should you again be paying Google's internet bill? Netflix pays their isp to provide service. We customers pay ours. Comcast wants Netflix to pay them even though Comcast doesn't provide isp service for Netflix. Netflix, for the longest time, said that Comcast was full of shit. Netflix's isp told Comcast that they should be providing more backbone connection for their Network because clearly their customers are trying to use more. (Again, would you pay Google's isp for them to give Google more throughput? Or should Google's isp be asking Google for that money?) Logically, those of us paying Comcast for isp service were already paying Comcast to increase capacity if they're having trouble keeping up. However, Comcast found it more profitable to not provide the service they claim to provide and instead wait for someone to pay extra. This has been covered. I know I've seen your name in these threads. Stop being a dumbass. "A quick google search reveals a few comments on regulations creating monopolies." A related, but separate problem. I'd be all for busting up the big ISPs in the same way we had to do with telephone providers. I'd be all for allowing local governments to build out fiber for anyone to rent access to. I'd be all for local loop unbundling (forcing isps to allow line access to other companies for approximately the cost to run the lines). Many people aren't a fan of such moves because it involves either government solutions or government interference with the "private" (quotes because taxes paid for a lot of these lines) property of ISPs. Even with such fixes, having a set of general, reasonable regulations required of businesses providing internet service is still a positive thing. At the end of the day, isp service is remarkably similar to power or roads. It makes no sense for every business to build their own set of roads, it makes to sense to build multiple sets of power distribution systems. If we aren't replacing current infrastructure with vast improvements, then there's no logical reason to overbuild at all.
Hrothgar Member	Tue Nov 21 14:44:21 As soon as your service provider starts offing the equivalent of a "cable package" of websites it offers at optimal speeds - meaning the rest will be shit - anti-net neutrality fans will learn their lesson.
hood Member	Tue Nov 21 15:03:20 And the FCC is now going to preempt state laws regarding net neutrality and likely privacy law.
delude Member	Tue Nov 21 15:38:13 FCC before used to want to level the playing field, now the FCC under this fuckhead president wants to fuck everyone over.
Forwyn Member	Wed Nov 22 00:32:07 "I know I've seen your name in these threads. Stop being a dumbass." http://pics.me.me/i-seent-it-22533473.png
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