Finally some good news: Obama is for Net Neutrality

[Professor]

Would ISP companies still be able to charge content-provider companies tiered rates based on assumed usage?

For instance, let's say that Comcast determines (purely hypothetical) that ANY streaming movie service uses up 50% of available bandwidth, and basically mucks up the works for everyone else. Basically, streaming movies is detrimental to the overall internet experience. So, they decide to charge more (or less) per GB to those companies. But, they are NOT allowed to charge very different rates to Netflix vs Hulu.

[Professor]

[Indy]

The problem is when those providing the highway also get into the car business and use the highway access to coerce people into buying their cars.

Perhaps the solution is to state that the telecoms can't also be content providers which launches an immediate conflict of interest.

I thought this was kinda funny:

[Spider]

[Professor]

[Professor]

[Professor]

Oh, and I hope I'm not coming off as naive. I really don't know much about this. I'm thinking my way through it as we discuss.

[spacemonkey]

Whatever generates the most $$$ will probably become reality.

[The dane]

Net neutrality is a very simple concept: All data is equal.

The ISPs can still charge people based on how much they use the internet, but they can't charge people based on what they use the internet for, nor can they slow down the service if they don't like the content.

It's the same system we have for phones, or roads. The owner of a toll road can charge you for using that road, and they can charge you differently for using a truck vs a car, but they can't charge you differently based on where you are going or why.

If we lose net neutrality, that will have some really hideous consequences. For example the ISP would be able to effectively block any information that is critical of them, or any information that they disagree with politically. And it would have a severe impact on the ability for new companies to succeed, because the ISPs could make very lucrative deals for beneficial treatment with the largest current companies.

[Professor]