Should your ISP decide what sites you can and cannot access?

[OSLIN]

We have Net Neutrality legislation!

This legislation is intended to keep ISPs from deciding what sites you can access. Go here to send email to congress encouraging them to pass it. Home | Save the Internet

[Station]

Signed. Although, my congressman is Bill Shuster, so I doubt it will do much good. Been trying to vote that guy out for years.....

[Incognito]

I've been pushing for NN for a while now.

The bill at OpenCongress: H.R.3458: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to establish a national broadband policy, safeguard consumer... OpenCongress

[C.T.HOLM]

Be aware that net neutrality is not something we have, that is being taken away, but rather a utopian concept that we would like to see happen, but which is pretty unlikely as it has no cash-carrot for the ISPs.

ISP have allways had the job of blocking off dangerous sites, virus, spam and they have also allways priorytised traffic - IP telefoni over filetransfer, email on a low priority. Net neutrality tries to remove the right to do so, but lacks an answer to the problems this will cause.

Another problem about this concept is that it is international. Laws in US will effect me, and Laws in Denmark will effect the very small number of Americans visiting danish hosted sites. This presents a challenge, as there is no real reason for american sites to be hosted in the US. If USA decides on a law that gives ISPs less rights they will be forced to raise their prices, and will quickly be outconqered by foreign based companies, or by the first american company to move abroad, circumventing the new laws. In the end, the laws would have a very small impact because of the lacking incentive for ISPs.

Just my tocents to get a debate going about a problem that still to my knowlegde lacks a good solution.

[OSLIN]

Originally Posted by C.T.HOLM

Be aware that net neutrality is not something we have, that is being taken away, but rather a utopian concept that we would like to see happen, but which is pretty unlikely as it has no cash-carrot for the ISPs.

ISP have allways had the job of blocking off dangerous sites, virus, spam and they have also allways priorytised traffic - IP telefoni over filetransfer, email on a low priority. Net neutrality tries to remove the right to do so, but lacks an answer to the problems this will cause.

Another problem about this concept is that it is international. Laws in US will effect me, and Laws in Denmark will effect the very small number of Americans visiting danish hosted sites. This presents a challenge, as there is no real reason for american sites to be hosted in the US. If USA decides on a law that gives ISPs less rights they will be forced to raise their prices, and will quickly be outconqered by foreign based companies, or by the first american company to move abroad, circumventing the new laws. In the end, the laws would have a very small impact because of the lacking incentive for ISPs.

Just my tocents to get a debate going about a problem that still to my knowlegde lacks a good solution.

I'm only talking about US law, so I guess this thread really might not pertain to you, but if you are interested in seeing a good solution, check out the link below.

Your argument about such legislation being too idealistic is bogus as far as I am concerned. I am old enough to recall that same argument being used against the leaders of the civil rights movement. People said that they were being too idealistic by demanding legislation that guaranteed EVERYONE have equal civil rights under the law. Where would we be now if they had listened to that specious argument?

Sorry I won't have time to nurse this thread... just needed to drop that link so that people who were interested could be informed and active if they chose to.

Regards.

[OSLIN]

Originally Posted by Station

Signed. Although, my congressman is Bill Shuster, so I doubt it will do much good. Been trying to vote that guy out for years.....

It matters. The numbers help bolster support for the issue even if your 'representative' is in the pocket of a large corporation.

I believe it can and probably will happen. So many people on the left AND right want it!

[jeffdrafttech]

One huge problem is that broadband leaves us with one or two choices in todays world. If both the phone/dsl provider and the cable provider decide to block a site, we're screwed. Hopefully wireless and electric companies move into the market really soon and help keep everyone honest.

I trust the market more than the politicians. Politicians are too easily swayed by lobbyists. If some fat cat lobbyist convinces a congressman that the only way to provide affordable internet is to block some content, no amount of letter writing will help. If the electric utility provides net neutrality and the cable company loses subscribers because they don't, that is what will eventually make it work for the common good.

that being said, it would be nice if laws protected us, but I don't have complete confidence that they'll pull it off. I'll write my bible-thumping douche rep and hope for the best.

[pala]

Signed. I don't think with the lobbyists it will get through intact, but its worth the effort IMO.

[Station]

Originally Posted by OSLIN

It matters. The numbers help bolster support for the issue even if your 'representative' is in the pocket of a large corporation.

I believe it can and probably will happen. So many people on the left AND right want it!

He's not in anyones pocket, he's just an idiot. His dad was our senator forever and when he left, bill took his place. before that he was a used car salesman. Seriously.