In today's post, I will briefly explain the term "Network Neutrality", why it is important to you, and why Comcast services suck in general.
Alright, so here we have the modern day high-speed internet - a super-happy fun place where you can do about anything information and entertainment wise from watching stupid videos to posting how big your last BM was on some social network for the whole world to see. Cool right? All of these pieces of data are considered equal and are permitted through a principle called network neutrality - or better known as a part of that junk you would see in the first amendment.
Ok, what if some of that content was blocked or "capped". That would suck and people would (and do) complain because this violates net neutrality. This is something that has come up in recent years as the FCC wants to help take control of what traffic and content is allowed through major internet providers seemingly one at a time. Comcast, one of the first providers partially affected by the FCC wave, prevents its users from complete net neutrality by denying full permissions to access certain peer 2 peer (P2P) traffic and particular streaming websites such as Netflix without paying an extra fee to the provider itself.
I understand that conglomerate Internet/Phone/Cable companies don't want your computer to turn into a free Cable/Phone/Entertainment machine because they'd lose money on there other services, but that doesn't give them the right to censor certain aspects of the internet that we pay a solid 80+ bucks a month for because they monopolized other sensible providers..
.. oh yeah -
http://comcastsucksballs.blogspot.com/
http://comcastsucks.org/
- free speech at its finest.
I agree with you, allowing corporations to curtail innovation is a recipe for disaster (and Anti-trust), and moreover an infringements on speech. It was inherent in Comcast's business model that Comcast was going to be providing people with internet access, and by restricting the content of what was channeled through their services was nothing less than a breach of contract that Comcast had with their customers. However, to throw more salt in the wounds, Comcast was really pushing to settle a class action law suit with their customers for a mere $16.00. Fortunately, the FCC's position on Net Neutrality was maintained and solidified in Congress back in December, but even recently the GOP tried (without success) to put this power back into the hands of the corporations.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/10/idUS211494328220111110
I couldn't really agree with you more, Co. I do not care how much money cable and internet providers lose, censoring my internet usage is fascist and I will not tolerate it. I will torrent and stream until my heart gives out and I dare Comcast or any other ISP to do something about it. I'm willing to die for freedom. Come at me bros.
ReplyDeleteI fully concur with your position on network neutrality. Internet service providers that block or limit content are creating an unlevel playing field and only those with expendable finances are making it to home. I believe all internet consumers have the right to do as they please with their connection and undesired monitoring is an invasion of privacy. I also believe telecommunication service providers such as Comcast are just creating another illegitimate means to generate more revenue and are wringing the wet rag for as much as they can. Net neutrality will ensure that the unbiased foundation of the internet is never lost.
ReplyDeleteI can agree with you. Knowing that your the one paying for the service, and if you pay a lot for the speeds that your getting, I don't think anyone should be able to throttle down on the bandwidth that we use. Paying for something and not getting the full potential of it is just wrong.
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