The future of the internet?

[JamesBrown]

There will always be a 'free lane' on the Internet. Think of it like a freeway. If the freeways became toll roads the government could (and would) say - well you can always walk to work. Thats free - right???

[Buffy]

Originally Posted by JamesBrown

There will always be a 'free lane' on the Internet. Think of it like a freeway. If the freeways became toll roads the government could (and would) say - well you can always walk to work. Thats free - right???

Its one thing for the government to do that. At least we know that when we're paying our toll, its for things that we get back as "the people."

Its an entirely different thing when the highway is *private*, its the *only* highway, and because there's more money in it, the owners of the highway want to reserve 3 of the 4 lanes exclusively for big rigs because their friends own those companies and they'll get kickbacks to boot.

Net Neutrality Now! GO TO Save the Internet : Fighting for Internet Freedom and tell your representatives and the FCC that you don't want to be told by AT&T that you can *only* buy from Amazon unless you're willing to wait an hour for your assigned slot to buy from your favorite smalltime book seller.

Use it or lose it,
Buffy

[Buffy]

Think its not going to happen? Here are just a few shenanigans that are already happening (read the full post at Firedoglake):

Originally Posted by Pheonix Woman at Firedoglake

• In 2004, North Carolina ISP Madison River blocked their DSL customers from using any rival Web-based phone service.
• In 2005, Canada’s telephone giant Telus blocked customers from visiting a Web site sympathetic to the Telecommunications Workers Union during a contentious labor dispute.
• Shaw, a major Canadian cable, internet, and telephone service company, intentionally downgrades the “quality and reliability” of competing Internet-phone services that their customers might choose — driving customers to their own phone services not through better services, but by rigging the marketplace.
• In April, Time Warner’s AOL blocked all emails that mentioned EchoDitto – an advocacy campaign opposing the company’s pay-to-send e-mail scheme.

Five days left! Complain now! Save The Internet!

Fighting monopolies is a family value,
Buffy

[alexander]

hey buffy, how about something that will cheer people up? hate reading about more problems, its like, they are all around, and yet, here you go, some more for you....

[Buffy]

Originally Posted by alexander

hey buffy, how about something that will cheer people up?

That's me! Ms. Cheerleader!

I'm all cheerleady!

Originally Posted by alexander

hate reading about more problems, its like, they are all around, and yet, here you go, some more for you....

True, but when you're about to lose everything, its a good idea to warn people.

What if Paul Revere had thought that it might be good to warn that the British were coming, but didn't want to be all negativy?

The Telecom Oligarchs are coming! The Telecom Oligarchs are coming!
Net Neutrality Now!

Yankee Slayer,
Buffy

[alexander]

Originally Posted by Buffy

That's me! Ms. Cheerleader!

Watching =D

Originally Posted by Buffy

The Telecom Oligarchs are coming! The Telecom Oligarchs are coming!

Originally Posted by Buffy

Net Neutrality Now!

Hell yeah!

[CraigD]

Very nifty animated gifs (in post #16), Alexander. Who/where're they from?

[inova]

Funny cat

[DougF]

New post dated July 19 2007 please read.

Save the Internet Blog » Blog Archive » New Report Busts Telco Myths about U.S. Internet

These same companies – including AT&T, Verizon and Comcast – have unveiled plans to block or degrade Internet users’ access to Web sites and services by erecting new toll booths on the Internet. This threat to Net Neutrality has compelled more than 1.6 million Americans to write Congress demanding legal protections for Internet freedom.

then write congress with this easy link. (above in bold)

[LaurieAG]

Originally Posted by orbsycli

Is it possible to have....

another internet?

Hello Orb,

In Australia we already have what you refer to, check out the download limits.

ADSL Plans - ADSL Modems - ADSL Broadband Internet - Telstra BigPond