The end of the internet as we know it

Corporations are pressuring congress to give them absolute power over the internet thus turning it into a multi tiered system where only those who pay above and beyond what they already pay for net access will be able to access the high broadband levels. This in effect will kill highspeed access for anyone who can't or won't cough up what the corporations want. This bill has already passed the House and if it passes the Senate it's a sure bet that the Corporate lapdog, Shrub, will sign it into law.

.....Boohoo?

Originally posted by ILoveMyDaniel
.....Boohoo?

Exactly.

Boy, you guys are something else. Next they'll start charging for air, and you won't care.

Originally posted by Darth_Erebus
Boy, you guys are something else. Next they'll start charging for air, and you won't care.

But they don't OWN the air.

Let's make the assumption that this is a bad thing for customers. But seriously, can you give any good economic reason why the people who lay down all the wire and cable that we make free use of with the Internet should NOT be allowed to come up with a pricing structure that decides its use? All those wires are their property, after all.

Originally posted by Ushgarak
But they don't OWN the air.

Let's make the assumption that this is a bad thing for customers. But seriously, can you give any good economic reason why the people who lay down all the wire and cable that we make free use of with the Internet should NOT be allowed to come up with a pricing structure that decides its use? All those wires are their property, after all.

Yer. Verizon owns my wires.

I pay Verizon.

AINT THAT ENOUGH?

Buncha bull, that's what this is.

Heh. Shrub. I like that. 🙂

There goes the neighborhood................

You are paying for an Internet service- that is the servers and the support for them.

But the service uses the existing wired infrastructure, which the people that own it do have the right to decide how that service is priced to customers!

The market will take care of this. At first there will be a lot of complaining, but then those people need the Internet will set the price. After all, a provider can only charge what a customer is willing to pay.

Originally posted by Ushgarak
But they don't OWN the air.

Let's make the assumption that this is a bad thing for customers. But seriously, can you give any good economic reason why the people who lay down all the wire and cable that we make free use of with the Internet should NOT be allowed to come up with a pricing structure that decides its use? All those wires are their property, after all.

The internet is a communications medium. They are already charging for it, they are already maing money. By keeping the internet neutral they can't tell you which sites you can and can't visit, which they will if they get this on. It's also about free speech and access to any website one wishes. Everything isn't about profit and the CEO's bonus. But like all good sheep you people don't seem to grasp what this will mean.

But it is THEIRS, is the point. You may think that is a more moral way to do it- which is highly debatable. But what right do you have to demand the way a company prices its services? You didn't install the damn wires.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
The market will take care of this. At first there will be a lot of complaining, but then those people need the Internet will set the price. After all, a provider can only charge what a customer is willing to pay.

Yup, see, THAT is the way it should be. Customer power will beat attempts to legislate this issue every time.

There is no need to worry, because prices will still have to be competitive, else someone else will undercut.

Originally posted by Ushgarak
But they don't OWN the air.

If some people had their way they would. Capitalism is a good thing when limits are put on it. The internet is one such place where those limits should be applied.

Speculate about that all you like. Fact is, they don't own the air, nor did they put it there, but they do and did with the wires.

Originally posted by Ushgarak
Yup, see, THAT is the way it should be. Customer power will beat attempts to legislate this issue every time.

There is no need to worry, because prices will still have to be competitive, else someone else will undercut.

Oh but you're wrong. This is about creating monoplies. People will pay for it often when there is no alternative. There should be an alternative. The more choices the better.....for the consumer that is.

You're basically paying for a service...just like when you pay for the cable tv or the dish tv...if you don't like it...you can always cancel it. The internet is not a necesity...is just a luxuary...besides...not everyone has internet in their homes....even in this day and age.

I love the Internet.............to my own demise..........

I am not aware that there is anything approaching a communications monopoly in the States.

Choice will be plentiful. New companies only have to install new wires and then they can set their own terms. If they wishedd, companies could build an infrastrucure and specifically market on being neutral.

Bottom line- I don;t think we have the right to have laws that prevent the free flow of the free market in this instance.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
The market will take care of this. At first there will be a lot of complaining, but then those people need the Internet will set the price. After all, a provider can only charge what a customer is willing to pay.

It MIGHT work if there is plenty of competition. Problem is the trend in the corporate world now is merge, merge, merge. If you end up with 2 or 3 giant corporations then they can dictate the market and consumers are left with no options. Anti trustlaws basically count for nothing anymore.