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Quality-of-Service controls for different classes of traffic are already an important part of how the internet works, but is entirely separate from Net Neutrali

Quality-of-Service controls for different classes of traffic are already an important part of how the internet works, but is entirely separate from Net Neutrality. An operator like Verizon, for example, that runs phone service (including emergency calls) over the same lines as their standard internet service pretty much has to prioritize packet types differently. This is expected and understood by all parties. The Net Neutrality that people are up in arms about is related to limiting traffic of the same class based on which endpoints are involved. For example, Verizon cannot throttle (or worse, outright block) HTTP traffic to Netflix/Hulu/Youtube to 1KB/s to drive users to their own competing service.

pneill 9y ago
Good point, but if there was real competition in the ISP market, you could switch providers that do this. Don't fight for net neutrality. Fight for ISP marketplace
- Crespyl 9y ago
  Should I also fight for the road and sewage pipe market places while I'm at it? There are some pieces of infrastructure that only make sense as natural monopolies. I recently moved to Texas and was surprised and rather impressed at their two-layered electrical market. There is one "power distribution company" for an entire region, regulated (I assume) by the state/county. I never do business with them, but they hook my building up to the grid and maintain the lines. Then I choose a power generating company from a wealth of plans and providers, based on whatever criteria I care about. Doing something similar for internet service would be fantastic, but still requires neutrality from the last-mile infrastructure. Apparently in the UK they've managed something like this through something called local-loop unbundling, which I assume is part of why we don't hear so much about NN from over there. I would love to see something like that in the US; ISPs will fight tooth and nail to prevent it.

pneill 9y ago

Good point, but if there was real competition in the ISP market, you could switch providers that do this. Don't fight for net neutrality. Fight for ISP marketplace

Crespyl 9y ago
Should I also fight for the road and sewage pipe market places while I'm at it? There are some pieces of infrastructure that only make sense as natural monopolies. I recently moved to Texas and was surprised and rather impressed at their two-layered electrical market. There is one "power distribution company" for an entire region, regulated (I assume) by the state/county. I never do business with them, but they hook my building up to the grid and maintain the lines. Then I choose a power generating company from a wealth of plans and providers, based on whatever criteria I care about. Doing something similar for internet service would be fantastic, but still requires neutrality from the last-mile infrastructure. Apparently in the UK they've managed something like this through something called local-loop unbundling, which I assume is part of why we don't hear so much about NN from over there. I would love to see something like that in the US; ISPs will fight tooth and nail to prevent it.