Net Neutrality

[iPolarzz]

Hey so long story short, if you don't want to pay $10 extra for website packages with your ISP I recommend signing this petition.

https://www.change.org/p/save-net-n...context=signature_receipt&recruiter=749436142


View attachment 18384

 

[Luna]

Petitions mean nothing in reality. Calling your local representative or your state senators does far more. They care about votes, not about a bunch of signatures on an insignificant website.

 

[M4A1-S]

Petitions mean nothing in reality. Calling your local representative or your state senators does far more. They care about votes, not about a bunch of signatures on an insignificant website.

Words of wisdom Nick, Thank you for doing this so I didn't have too.

 

[Squrl]

I want to hear some opposition against net neutrality I haven't seen much about why we shouldn't have it. It sounds good but we didn't have it prior to 2015 and all these things that "will" happen weren't happening prior to 2015. I want to know both sides of the story because I feel right now we are seeing mostly the left side of the issue and I would like to know a more conservative look on the issue.

 

[runo]

I want to hear some opposition against net neutrality I haven't seen much about why we shouldn't have it. It sounds good but we didn't have it prior to 2015 and all these things that "will" happen weren't happening prior to 2015. I want to know both sides of the story because I feel right now we are seeing mostly the left side of the issue and I would like to know a more conservative look on the issue.

I mean, if you want to put spins like "left" and "conservative" on a topic that really doesn't have anything to do with your political views, but with common sense? You could do that. You'd be wrong, but you could do that. The problem is this isn't really about political views so much as plain, unveiled fact: repealing net neutrality is bad for you mostly because of what top-dog ISPs CAN do to the internet if it is revoked. And yes, I do mean the big-wigs at the top of the ISP food chain like Comcast and Verizon. They are two of the few (if any other) companies that will truly benefit from this, and let me assure you: we the customers will not reap the benefits that these corporations intend to sow

Imagine if the act were demolished tomorrow. The gavel goes down, the majority favors repeal, it's done. A lot of benefits to the free man's internet, such as social media, image sharing, news, gaming, streaming music and movie services, or ANYTHING requiring the internet to access could become part of packages that corporations will charge you for; more than you are paying now (which is currently... typically nothing for baseline, non-premium versions of services such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, just to name some), and these 'deals' could impact literally any facet or aspect of the internet. You might have to start paying $10+ a month to access the "Multiplayer Gaming" bundle on TOP of whatever subscription or micro-transaction fees you pay as it is -- developers aren't just going to magically profit from repealing net neutrality

And that's ALONGSIDE whatever other premium packages you have an interest in. $10 here for gaming, $15 to subscribe to "Super Ultra Mega Shooty Multiplayer Game: Online"... maybe you spent $15 a month on "That One Fancy Dress-up MMO's" cash shop... You'll need to start to scrounge up the cash to pay ten bucks a pop for basic services that WERE free, like Twitter or Imgur, and you may pay more to access premium services such as Netflix, HBO Go or Spotify. Oh wait, what's that? Your Premium Internet Package bill is up to $50-$100+ a month and you haven't paid the basic cable bill yet? Damn

Now this isn't a guarantee that corporations like Comcast or Verizon will automatically jump to abuse their new privileges, but I want you to answer me honestly: we're talking about cash cow corporations like Comcast and Verizon here. Do you honestly think they won't abuse and exploit this new system? It won't take long. It may not be tomorrow, or next week, or the next few months -- but before long, they will find a way to exploit their customers, just like they always have and just like they'll continue to do whether or not net neutrality gets repealed

With that said I feel like it would be more beneficial to consult ye olde space wizard Google, do a bit of research of your own accord and ultimately inform yourself far better than some schmucks (for or against net neutrality) on the internet can.

 

[Luna]

It sounds good but we didn't have it prior to 2015 and all these things that "will" happen weren't happening prior to 2015.

There's nothing hypothetical about what ISPs will do when net neutrality is eliminated.

2005 - Madison River Communications was blocking VOIP services. The FCC put a stop to it.

2005 - Comcast was denying access to p2p services without notifying customers.

2007-2009 - AT&T was having Skype and other VOIPs blocked because they didn't like there was competition for their cellphones. 2011 - MetroPCS tried to block all streaming except youtube. (edit: they actually sued the FCC over this)

2011-2013, AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon were blocking access to Google Wallet because it competed with their bullshit. edit: this one happened literally months after the trio were busted collaborating with Google to block apps from the android marketplace

2012, Verizon was demanding google block tethering apps on android because it let owners avoid their $20 tethering fee. This was despite guaranteeing they wouldn't do that as part of a winning bid on an airwaves auction. (edit: they were fined $1.25million over this)

2012, AT&T - tried to block access to FaceTime unless customers paid more money.

2013, Verizon literally stated that the only thing stopping them from favoring some content providers over other providers were the net neutrality rules in place.

2014, Verizon and Comcast throttled Netflix data and held those customers hostage to a huge bribe from Netflix.
https://www.extremetech.com/computi...raffic-even-after-its-pays-for-more-bandwidth

Links for those events below
[hiddenbox]Madison River Communications: https://www.cnet.com/news/telco-agrees-to-stop-blocking-voip-calls/

Comcast hates pirates: https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=a679f360-9890-4129-9d7e-53a598c3ac10 (article from '08)

AT&T VOIP hostage: https://www.wired.com/2009/10/iphone-att-skype/

Google wallet hostage: http://money.cnn.com/2011/12/06/technology/verizon_blocks_google_wallet/index.htm

Verizon hates tethering apps: https://www.wired.com/2011/06/verizon-tethering-fcc/

AT&T claimed blocking facetime wasn't a net neutrality issue: http://money.cnn.com/2012/08/23/technology/att-facetime/index.html

"Verizon lawyer Helgi Walker made the company’s intentions all too clear, saying the company wants to prioritize those websites and services that are willing to shell out for better access.": https://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2013/09/18/verizons-plan-break-internet[/hiddenbox]

Original Source

 

[SlavMaster BlinMaker]

The internet was founded by the States in order to rebuild themselves in case of a nuclear attack from the would be Soviet Union. Now the most powerful thing in the world is the internet. I think if truly ISP's want to charge people for extra stuff like that, then the internet it self will revolt against it and bring back net neutrality. Sometimes we forget that we the people are the only reason the internet is the global super power, and a simple provider cannot and will not silence over billions of people to make an extra buck. I believe that the ISP's goal will ultimately fail. I can only hope so.

 

[Aetos17]

I don't trust Apple, Facebook, Google nor do I trust the government to control or regulate anything. They always end up abusing their power. Getting back to Google and facebook who have been caught censoring conservative content and pushing liberal news. And yet they are supporters of Net Neutrality. One must wonder why? I don't believe they have everyone's best interests in mind. While I don't like the idea of internet companies throttling websites and services I believe the people will hold them accountable for their actions.

 

[Kortoga]

The internet was founded by the States in order to rebuild themselves in case of a nuclear attack from the would be Soviet Union. Now the most powerful thing in the world is the internet. I think if truly ISP's want to charge people for extra stuff like that, then the internet it self will revolt against it and bring back net neutrality.

Not sure it will work like that. We can ask everyone in China what they think about their internet being controlled by their government, and what they plan to do about it. I am certain the answers would be:
1. We don't like being censored
2. Nothing we can do about it

As far as I see it, NN is a good thing. It did not come from the US government, it came from us...the people. We elected the people who made NN. And now the lobbyists have repealed what we wanted. There is no reason to get rid of it and "hope" the big ISPs do not do bad things. That is like telling a druggy to not do drugs, then give him some, and expect him to not take them.
How about not giving him the drugs in the first place? How about keeping NN and then we "know" nothing fishy is going on.

With the repeal, a new content pricing structure will be created. Along with ability for ISPs to control your individual surfing experience. I am not just talking about targeted ads. I am talking about targeted everything, you name it, due to all analytics they have on you and everyone at your internet connection. To the point of restricting content so you never can access it. Right now you can go wherever you want, that will not be the case in the future because when it comes to money, if I could legally charge you to leave your property I would. Then if I could charge you for every time you wanted to use Amazon, I would. Or I could stop you from using Amazon, my choice.
And that is just the beginning. We will talk about these days long from now, how the internet used to be free and you could do anything. I mean "free" in both definitions of the word. "Money" free and do whatever you want free. Those days are numbered.
They will charge extra for the "bad" website types first, because who likes those guys right. That is easy to get the public on that band wagon. Then over time they will start charging extra and censoring the things you like.
Not a good road at all...

 

[runo]

While I don't like the idea of internet companies throttling websites and services I believe the people will hold them accountable for their actions.

Good luck with that, considering -- as Kortoga noted -- net neutrality initially came from the people (and the people we elected) to keep the internet a free and fair playground. Living on a prayer only works for Bon Jovi.