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I'm not saying encryption is the solution. The solution to internet neutrality and user privacy may be something entirely different. Maybe it is mesh networks o

I'm not saying encryption is the solution. The solution to internet neutrality and user privacy may be something entirely different. Maybe it is mesh networks of an open source wifi solution. I'm not an expert in networking, but it doesn't take much to understand the policy-first approach is fundamentally flawed.

AnthonyMouse 10y ago
The alternative to network neutrality is a highly competitive ISP market, i.e. municipal fiber leased wholesale to dozens of competing retail ISPs. The problem is the incumbent ISPs lobby against that too.
ac29 10y ago
>I'm not an expert in networking, but it doesn't take much to understand the policy-first approach is fundamentally flawed. Why is policy first flawed? An analogy: Imagine if your county sold the rights to build and maintain (or not maintain) all the roads, highways, and public transportation in your county to Car Company X. Vehicles from competitors Y and Z were then forced to pay tolls. If government policy isn't the solution this, what is? "The free market" is not the answer. Bad car analogies aside, "lets just build our own internet, with WiFi meshes and encryption or something" isn't the answer to internet service either.
pdkl95 10y ago
> it doesn't take much to understand the policy-first approach is fundamentally flawed. While this is a popular belief, it represents a fundamental misunderstanding of how politics works. Ignoring policy doesn't mean it won't happen; you're simply allowing other people to define policy without your input. In this case, congress should have acted to preserve neutrality and privacy by passing the necessary laws or regulations. Unfortunately the people that should have been educating congress and pressuring them to act were more interested in complaining about congress's lack of education in technical areas and/or working on technical workarounds. Without any real competition, Comcast et al bought politicians easily and cheaply. Yes, politicians will pass imperfect laws even when they have the best intentions. You fix that by participating in politics and applying an opposing force to corruption. Ignoring the problem isn't neutral; it's announcing that you aren't going to stand in the way of corruption.
sangnoir 10y ago
> Maybe it is mesh networks of an open source wifi solution Once mesh networks threaten the profits of telecom companies, How quickly do you think the laws to make mesh networks illegal (or onerous to set up) will be enacted? You can't solve political/legislative problems with technology, unless you are prepared to go to jail.

AnthonyMouse 10y ago

The alternative to network neutrality is a highly competitive ISP market, i.e. municipal fiber leased wholesale to dozens of competing retail ISPs. The problem is the incumbent ISPs lobby against that too.

ac29 10y ago

>I'm not an expert in networking, but it doesn't take much to understand the policy-first approach is fundamentally flawed. Why is policy first flawed? An analogy: Imagine if your county sold the rights to build and maintain (or not maintain) all the roads, highways, and public transportation in your county to Car Company X. Vehicles from competitors Y and Z were then forced to pay tolls. If government policy isn't the solution this, what is? "The free market" is not the answer. Bad car analogies aside, "lets just build our own internet, with WiFi meshes and encryption or something" isn't the answer to internet service either.

pdkl95 10y ago

> it doesn't take much to understand the policy-first approach is fundamentally flawed. While this is a popular belief, it represents a fundamental misunderstanding of how politics works. Ignoring policy doesn't mean it won't happen; you're simply allowing other people to define policy without your input. In this case, congress should have acted to preserve neutrality and privacy by passing the necessary laws or regulations. Unfortunately the people that should have been educating congress and pressuring them to act were more interested in complaining about congress's lack of education in technical areas and/or working on technical workarounds. Without any real competition, Comcast et al bought politicians easily and cheaply. Yes, politicians will pass imperfect laws even when they have the best intentions. You fix that by participating in politics and applying an opposing force to corruption. Ignoring the problem isn't neutral; it's announcing that you aren't going to stand in the way of corruption.

sangnoir 10y ago

> Maybe it is mesh networks of an open source wifi solution Once mesh networks threaten the profits of telecom companies, How quickly do you think the laws to make mesh networks illegal (or onerous to set up) will be enacted? You can't solve political/legislative problems with technology, unless you are prepared to go to jail.