Y'know, it's kind of ironic. If Algore had used the Internet to find a "massage," he could've gotten his handjob. Instead he calls down to the front desk in a fancy hotel. Idiot.
Unfortunately, many of us don't have that luxury. In a large number of places, there is only one maybe two options. In my area we have a choice between AT&T and Comcast. Now, what if AT&T blocked Vonage because they didn't want the competition for their phone services, and Comcast blocked Netflix because they didn't like competition for their video services. What if I wanted to subscribe to both Vonage and Netflix? I'd be out of luck. Normal market forces cannot work in this industry. Let's also not forget that small fact that in any other industry, this kind of behavior would be beyond illegal. Comcast doesn't own the Internet, they run a portal to the Internet. They should not have the right to block or throttle content they don't like or traffic from competitors. This is exactly the type of thing antitrust laws were written to prevent, yet some people think those laws shouldn't apply to the Internet.
I recently allowed a large logging company (http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/) to build a logging road on one of my properties in MS. My family clear cuts this land about every 1.5 generations. The road is, as it stands, one of the nicest in the area. They built it so they could gain easier access to a property without good road access behind my property. Should they be required to allow the average Joe on that road? Should I? I own the land, but they built the road. Do we have an obligation to allow usage, or should be be able to "peer" out agreements?
An over reaching FCC can be dealt with. Unregulated restrictions on access to media cannot. Really? There's only one broadband ISP provider in my area and the surrounding 5 or 6 surrounding municipalities. If I want broadband access to the Internet, there's only 1 choice for me... and if Google or Verizon don't like it, then what do I do if I need information from them if net neutrality is stricken down?
How, exactly? To me, they look stronger now than they ever have. False. Dish Network and DirectTV both offer "broadband" internet packages via satellite. Sprint and Verizon both offer MiFi 3 and 4G services. Oh, but it's not fast enough for you or the latency is to high for you? Now it's become an argument about service, not delivery. You want the government to force a company to give you the service you want at the price you want. That's not the way it works, bubba.
I'm against the FCC regulating the Internet in ANY way, really. That's how it begins: you let them in the door for something you really could solve in other ways, and, before too long, you're up to your eyeballs in new politically-generated regulation that is far more troublesome than the problem you originally wanted to solve. Remember, the income tax was only going to be for millionaires. And Social Security was only going to be two per cent of your income.
Elwood agrees: "!" Let. the. market. work. It's not going to happen over night and not one of these evil companies have instituted any plans yet. Comcast already engages in traffic shaping.
