Queso Posted May 22, 2007 Report Posted May 22, 2007 http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060213/chester The nation's largest telephone and cable companies are crafting an alarming set of strategies that would transform the free, open and nondiscriminatory Internet of today to a privately run and branded service that would charge a fee for virtually everything we do online. :doh: Quote
Queso Posted May 22, 2007 Author Report Posted May 22, 2007 Is it possible to have.... another internet? Quote
Tormod Posted May 22, 2007 Report Posted May 22, 2007 Yes. It's been in the works for a while now - split the traffic lane in two and charge for guaranteed, priority traffic, and let the rest go free. Easy way to turn the Internet into another service which is mostly for the haves, while the have-nots will have to share the rest. Quote
Queso Posted May 22, 2007 Author Report Posted May 22, 2007 Good.... I have no idea what I would do if couldn't hop online and read what's going on.... The internet has become a crucial aspect of my existence. Quote
Tormod Posted May 22, 2007 Report Posted May 22, 2007 Well, see, that's the problem. Some of the people who run the infrastructure wants you to pay for the pleasure. Quote
Queso Posted May 22, 2007 Author Report Posted May 22, 2007 Yeah, and I don't mind paying for the service I have now.... but they're talkin' about tracking EVERYTHING we do and placing charges on EVERYTHING. Which is ABSURD, and SCARY. The internet is so free, right now.I can learn anythingtalk to anyoneright now. Despite their greedy effortsdo you think there will always be a "freedom channel"like there is now? I'm studying computer technology (have been since I was a kid, but I'm actually in college now) and I would like to be one of the people that keeps this portal open!!!!!! Quote
Tormod Posted May 22, 2007 Report Posted May 22, 2007 Despite their greedy effortsdo you think there will always be a "freedom channel"like there is now? I think so, yes. Seeing as so many businesses are built on the fact that using the net is free (well, usually only free for students, households usually pay for their access but not actual usage) I think they will have to find other methods. I think the "guaranteed traffic lane" is more directed at large publishers and websites with tons of cash (ie Google et al) so that they can make sure people get to use them, while others are harder to reach or download more slowly because they can't afford to pay to offer their content. Like Hypography, for example - we'd never be able to pay more than what we already do for servers. If we also had to PAY for people to be able to use our site, that would sort of kill the Internet as we know it. I don't think it's likely. It's possible, though. Quote
freeztar Posted May 23, 2007 Report Posted May 23, 2007 Like Hypography, for example - we'd never be able to pay more than what we already do for servers. If we also had to PAY for people to be able to use our site, that would sort of kill the Internet as we know it. I don't think it's likely. It's possible, though. That's when we'd break out the old 286 and get a BBS going. :doh: Quote
hallenrm Posted May 23, 2007 Report Posted May 23, 2007 Internet today is like Tea was about a century ago (in India) at that time tea companies used to distribute free tea packets to the general public. Today tea has become the "national beverage" in India, almost everyone needs to drink it, and also pay for it; minimum 1 cent (as per the current conversion rate of INR and USD). That's the same story everywhere, clever business people first get you hooked at very low charges, and once people get hooked any charge is allowed!;) Quote
alexander Posted June 14, 2007 Report Posted June 14, 2007 Internet 2.0 has finally spanned coas to coas, the 100 Gigabit line is now in place for the interschool network..... cant wait for internet 2.0 :) Quote
JamesBrown Posted July 9, 2007 Report Posted July 9, 2007 There will always be a 'free lane' on the Internet. Think of it like a freeway. If the freeways became toll roads the government could (and would) say - well you can always walk to work. Thats free - right??? Quote
Buffy Posted July 9, 2007 Report Posted July 9, 2007 There will always be a 'free lane' on the Internet. Think of it like a freeway. If the freeways became toll roads the government could (and would) say - well you can always walk to work. Thats free - right???Its one thing for the government to do that. At least we know that when we're paying our toll, its for things that we get back as "the people." Its an entirely different thing when the highway is *private*, its the *only* highway, and because there's more money in it, the owners of the highway want to reserve 3 of the 4 lanes exclusively for big rigs because their friends own those companies and they'll get kickbacks to boot. Net Neutrality Now! GO TO Save the Internet : Fighting for Internet Freedom and tell your representatives and the FCC that you don't want to be told by AT&T that you can *only* buy from Amazon unless you're willing to wait an hour for your assigned slot to buy from your favorite smalltime book seller. Use it or lose it,Buffy Quote
Buffy Posted July 10, 2007 Report Posted July 10, 2007 Think its not going to happen? Here are just a few shenanigans that are already happening (read the full post at Firedoglake):In 2004, North Carolina ISP Madison River blocked their DSL customers from using any rival Web-based phone service.In 2005, Canada’s telephone giant Telus blocked customers from visiting a Web site sympathetic to the Telecommunications Workers Union during a contentious labor dispute.Shaw, a major Canadian cable, internet, and telephone service company, intentionally downgrades the “quality and reliability” of competing Internet-phone services that their customers might choose — driving customers to their own phone services not through better services, but by rigging the marketplace.In April, Time Warner’s AOL blocked all emails that mentioned EchoDitto – an advocacy campaign opposing the company’s pay-to-send e-mail scheme. Five days left! Complain now! Save The Internet! Fighting monopolies is a family value,Buffy Quote
alexander Posted July 11, 2007 Report Posted July 11, 2007 hey buffy, how about something that will cheer people up? hate reading about more problems, its like, they are all around, and yet, here you go, some more for you.... :phones: Quote
Buffy Posted July 11, 2007 Report Posted July 11, 2007 hey buffy, how about something that will cheer people up?That's me! Ms. Cheerleader! :phones: I'm all cheerleady! :lol: :hyper: :hihi: :eek: :doh: hate reading about more problems, its like, they are all around, and yet, here you go, some more for you.... :(True, but when you're about to lose everything, its a good idea to warn people. What if Paul Revere had thought that it might be good to warn that the British were coming, but didn't want to be all negativy? The Telecom Oligarchs are coming! The Telecom Oligarchs are coming! Net Neutrality Now! Yankee Slayer,Buffy Quote
alexander Posted July 12, 2007 Report Posted July 12, 2007 That's me! Ms. Cheerleader! Watching =D The Telecom Oligarchs are coming! The Telecom Oligarchs are coming! Net Neutrality Now! Hell yeah! Quote
CraigD Posted July 14, 2007 Report Posted July 14, 2007 Very nifty animated gifs (in post #16), Alexander. Who/where're they from? Quote
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