Is anyone else worried about the fact that the government that couldn’t make a website work now has complete control of the internet?
Just curious if it’s only me.
Friday February 27, 2015
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I think it’s a mixed bag. There’s a good commentary at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/02/fcc-votes-net-neutrality-big-win), where they thank the FCC for solidifying the rules that prevent ISPs from charging internet users for special treatment, and from blocking or throttling users based on content (i.e. Torrents, streaming, hot spots, etc.). The new rules also require that wi-fi and cellular connections be treated the same, so that Verizon can’t prevent you from running your favorite apps through Wi-Fi and saving your limited 4G bandwidth. This should also prevent them from blocking VOIP on your phone to reduce your charged minutes.
But there is a concern that the FCC could abuse their authority, since they alone decide when an ISP has taken action that can hurt consumers, competition or innovation. There is some risk in this.
Net-net, despite these risks, I feel better about the FCC having this authority than the individual ISPs being able to do whatever they want. I think it will keep the internet more free and open, like it is today.
Comment by Daryl — Thursday March 5, 2015 @ 11:57 am
I do want to keep the internet more free and open, LIKE IT IS TODAY.
Why add the FCC into the mix if today it is FREE AND OPEN?
In other words if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
The issue that many point to was Comcast slowing down Netflix streams. The thing that fixed that was Netflix paid Comcast to not slow down their streams. Everybody was happy once the open market took care of it.
I’m just really, really concerned whenever the government decides they are going to fix something (especially something that wasn’t broken).
Comment by Don — Thursday March 5, 2015 @ 12:37 pm
Actually, not everyone was happy. Netflix complained loudly (http://blog.netflix.com/2014/03/internet-tolls-and-case-for-strong-net.html) that the deal was unfair and strongly promoted net neutrality.
The full 300 page FCC order has not yet been published (according to the EFF only about 8 pages represents the new requirements, while the rest is explanation of how they arrived at their decision) so it’s impossible to say how much power the government will have or how it all plays out. Probably best to reserve judgement until then.
Comment by Daryl — Thursday March 5, 2015 @ 4:48 pm
But there was no reason to impose NN right now.
I think it would have been best to not do it until it was broken.
I am in favor of the theory behind NN. I want the net to be left alone completely by all governments.
But this government can’t do that. They have to take control.
And I’m not just talking about Democrats. Republicans are just as bad. They both want a larger government even though the old Republican party didn’t. It’s all changed now. The Democratic party has moved further left and the Republican party has moved further right on some things except when it comes to the size of government. In that case they both want larger.
And that’s not what our founders had in mind.
Comment by Don — Thursday March 5, 2015 @ 5:51 pm