News Item: : Network Neutrality Discussion Panel
(Category: Caucus)
Posted by Administrator
Friday 03 November 2006 - 16:07:23
The phrase Network Neutrality describes networks that don't favor some destinations over others, or classes of application (for example the World Wide Web) over others (such as online gaming or Voice over IP).
However, several major Internet providers like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast are trying to control access to the Internet by deciding which Web sites are best for you. The speed at which a website loads would be based on which site pays them the most.
This means that large corporations would have an unfair advantage over their smaller competitors as they will be able to afford to pay the most. This also means that startup sites with new ideas and applications will never get seen if they can't afford to pay the high fees to get their sites viewed.
In addition, this will allow ISPs to control which websites you have access to. There have already been several documented cases where ISPs have blocked access to various sites:
A major communications bill that addresses Net Neutrality is in front of Congress right now and is in danger of being defeated by the large corporations if we don't speak up.
For a brief video discussing this issue, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9jHOn0EW8U
This news item is from CDP Computer & Internet Caucus
( http://www.cdpic.org/news.php?extend.3 )
(Category: Caucus)
Posted by Administrator
Friday 03 November 2006 - 16:07:23
The phrase Network Neutrality describes networks that don't favor some destinations over others, or classes of application (for example the World Wide Web) over others (such as online gaming or Voice over IP).
However, several major Internet providers like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast are trying to control access to the Internet by deciding which Web sites are best for you. The speed at which a website loads would be based on which site pays them the most.
This means that large corporations would have an unfair advantage over their smaller competitors as they will be able to afford to pay the most. This also means that startup sites with new ideas and applications will never get seen if they can't afford to pay the high fees to get their sites viewed.
In addition, this will allow ISPs to control which websites you have access to. There have already been several documented cases where ISPs have blocked access to various sites:
- Time Warner's AOL blocked all emails that mentioned www.dearaol.com -- an advocacy campaign opposing the company's pay-to-send e-mail scheme.
- Canada's telephone giant Telus blocked customers from visiting a Web site sympathetic to the Telecommunications Workers Union during a contentious labor dispute.
A major communications bill that addresses Net Neutrality is in front of Congress right now and is in danger of being defeated by the large corporations if we don't speak up.
For a brief video discussing this issue, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9jHOn0EW8U
This news item is from CDP Computer & Internet Caucus
( http://www.cdpic.org/news.php?extend.3 )