4 ms·

I don't think ISPs have any power in this situation at all. They are just delivery mechanisms when it comes to providing internet connectivity. All of the powe

by nickjj 8y ago

I don't think ISPs have any power in this situation at all. They are just delivery mechanisms when it comes to providing internet connectivity. All of the power lies within Google, Netflix and other content providers. Google could one day deny access to all of its services for all Comcast customers. If all of the content providers / big sites band together and do this, then there would be no value in paying for a Comcast internet connection. I'm sure this would never happen but that's all it would take for real change to happen.

ncallaway 8y ago
> I'm sure this would never happen but that's all it would take for real change to happen. Interestingly, this kind of thing happens with some frequency in cable channels and various TV providers. I'm not quite so sure this is as far fetched as "would never happen". I think it'd take some fairly well-demonstrated bad behavior by one or a handful of ISPs before sites would go there, but I think this could be possible.
0xffff2 8y ago
Wait a minute. Couldn't Google do this even with net neutrality? If I put a web server on the public internet, I'm perfectly free to refuse connections arbitrarily. It's only ISPs, who are routing traffic, that are required to route everything the same under NN.
- georgemcbay 8y ago
  > Couldn't Google do this even with net neutrality? Sure, but it is clearly not within Google's business interests to reduce their customer base arbitrarily. Cutting off access from specific ISPs would basically be a nuclear option for them.
xutopia 8y ago
That only goes to serve Comcast who then has the possibility to create a product shittier than Netflix and force it down their client's throat.
- nickjj 8y ago
  > That only goes to serve Comcast who then has the possibility to create a product shittier than Netflix and force it down their client's throat. This is more than just video content. It's access to critical internet websites.

by nickjj 8y ago

ncallaway 8y ago

> I'm sure this would never happen but that's all it would take for real change to happen. Interestingly, this kind of thing happens with some frequency in cable channels and various TV providers. I'm not quite so sure this is as far fetched as "would never happen". I think it'd take some fairly well-demonstrated bad behavior by one or a handful of ISPs before sites would go there, but I think this could be possible.

0xffff2 8y ago

Wait a minute. Couldn't Google do this even with net neutrality? If I put a web server on the public internet, I'm perfectly free to refuse connections arbitrarily. It's only ISPs, who are routing traffic, that are required to route everything the same under NN.

georgemcbay 8y ago
> Couldn't Google do this even with net neutrality? Sure, but it is clearly not within Google's business interests to reduce their customer base arbitrarily. Cutting off access from specific ISPs would basically be a nuclear option for them.

xutopia 8y ago

That only goes to serve Comcast who then has the possibility to create a product shittier than Netflix and force it down their client's throat.

nickjj 8y ago
> That only goes to serve Comcast who then has the possibility to create a product shittier than Netflix and force it down their client's throat. This is more than just video content. It's access to critical internet websites.