3 ms·

Network providers are asking to be paid twice for the same service though; it's like the Post Office charging you to send your mail, then charging your recipien

Network providers are asking to be paid twice for the same service though; it's like the Post Office charging you to send your mail, then charging your recipients again to receive it. It's like car makers charging the buyers once for the car, then charging the mall owner to let that brand of car park there. Additionally, it's got an incredibly harmful effect on free speech. As the Internet becomes the main means of all communication and discourse, if ISPs are allowed to regulate how content reaches their subscribers, what's to stop them from restricting access to particular news sources? Or even filtering political campaign website that haven't paid up? Without net neutrality, the Internet will become just a network of toll roads patrolled by highwaymen trying to shake down travelers for what they can get. For us to get the full potential of the Internet, the tools and the highwaymen need to go.

DigitalSea 12y ago
My thoughts exactly. This is one part favouritism and the other part double-dipping (a.k.a greed). Another metaphor adding onto your example is the local or state Government charging individual car manufacturers to use certain public roads like highways. "We've determined more Fords drive on this particular than any other brand of car, pay up or Ford vehicles will be intentionally limited or cut off from using this road" — Users (or in this example motorists) have already paid the appropriate entities; car registration, licence fees and insurance, now the road authority wants a cut from every car manufacturer because they're responsible for the roads being used. When you put it all into perspective with those metaphors, it really highlights how damaging and ridiculous anti-net neutrality laws could be for the Internet.
- eftpotrm 12y ago
  The other thing Comcast don't seen to have realised is that they're making a long term bet they'll be bigger than Netflix with this strategy. If they're not, what's to stop Netflix saying a major reason the subscribers are buying Comcast's service is to access them, so why should Comcast keep all the subscription? It's no less logical. Not a bet I'd want to make. Would you like being the ISP who only had limited access to all Google's websites because you wouldn't pay?
  - nmrm 12y ago
    It's easier for Comcast to offer products to compete with Netflix than it is for Netflix to offer products that compete with Comcast.
    - eftpotrm 12y ago
      But what use is that if they don't have the content to drive traction? Netflix and Youtube aren't unique but each have strong leads in their respective niches. Being 'the only ISP who can't do online video' is hardly going to be a winning business model for them.

DigitalSea 12y ago

My thoughts exactly. This is one part favouritism and the other part double-dipping (a.k.a greed). Another metaphor adding onto your example is the local or state Government charging individual car manufacturers to use certain public roads like highways. "We've determined more Fords drive on this particular than any other brand of car, pay up or Ford vehicles will be intentionally limited or cut off from using this road" — Users (or in this example motorists) have already paid the appropriate entities; car registration, licence fees and insurance, now the road authority wants a cut from every car manufacturer because they're responsible for the roads being used. When you put it all into perspective with those metaphors, it really highlights how damaging and ridiculous anti-net neutrality laws could be for the Internet.

eftpotrm 12y ago
The other thing Comcast don't seen to have realised is that they're making a long term bet they'll be bigger than Netflix with this strategy. If they're not, what's to stop Netflix saying a major reason the subscribers are buying Comcast's service is to access them, so why should Comcast keep all the subscription? It's no less logical. Not a bet I'd want to make. Would you like being the ISP who only had limited access to all Google's websites because you wouldn't pay?
- nmrm 12y ago
  It's easier for Comcast to offer products to compete with Netflix than it is for Netflix to offer products that compete with Comcast.
  - eftpotrm 12y ago
    But what use is that if they don't have the content to drive traction? Netflix and Youtube aren't unique but each have strong leads in their respective niches. Being 'the only ISP who can't do online video' is hardly going to be a winning business model for them.