In the middle of my push for Utopia Fiber in West Jordan, I came across this tidbit on the Save the Internet web site. Apparently companies like Comcast want to be the "gatekeepers of the Internet". Personally that worries me greatly. We already can't trust them to be fair with their customers. Every week I'm hearing from somebody in the U.S. who has been disconnected for violating their fuzzy Abuse policy. NOW they want to discriminate against web sites who don't pay more for service they are already paying for?
It's been argued that companies such as Google (for example) are not paying their fair share of the bandwidth they are using. I beg to differ. I've spoken with a few buddies working at Google and it's certainly not a free lunch (unless you mean lunch at their wonderful cafeteria). Companies and customers are paying for the services offered. This is basically another excuse to hike the rates without calling it a rate hike.
Do you want to "trust" an abusive company with the Internet? Contact the FCC and let them know what you think by June 15th (end of the public comment period). It's important they understand that a common carrier shouldn't be allowed to restrict what web pages you visit or how fast they might load compared to a competitor who paid extra.
One more note. I've received an interesting email from my Representative Chris Cannon about his views regarding the Internet. It's basically the opposite of what I've been hearing from him these last few years. Here is part of the letter I received.
Thank you for contacting me regarding the important issue of Net Neutrality. I appreciate your letter, and it is a pleasure to respond.
Currently in Congress there is a heated debate as to whether or not legislation should be enacted to prevent phone and cable companies from charging for preferential network access. As you may know, "Net Neutrality" refers to the idea that access to the Internet should be on a free and open basis for all.
The Internet continues to be a vital source of economic growth. The idea of a free and open Internet is what has allowed it to prosper and flourish into the fertile breeding ground of innovation it is today. It is my belief that Congress should stay out of the way of innovation and allow the Internet to continue to grow without the restrictive hands of over-regulation and control. For this reason I voted in favor of HR 5417, the Internet Freedom and Non-Discrimination Act, and for an amendment on the House floor that strengthens the anti-trust laws against those who attempt to degrade or impede legitimate Internet content.
In my time in Congress, I have led the way in keeping the Internet free of taxes and have always been a proponent of its ability to launch and sustain businesses of all sizes, but mainly small businesses. In addition, I am a cosponsor of HR 1684, the Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act of 2005, a bill that would make permanent the ban on state taxation of Internet access, to make sure your email is never taxed, and that you will not be taxed on your connection to your Internet service provider.
I am proud of the fact that Utah is one of the nation's technological leaders, and I assure you I will vote to protect Utahns in their freedom of choice in their Internet access and that I will fight for the founding principles that have made the Internet the success it is today.
BTW, HR 5417 can be viewed here.
Seems we have more in common than I thought :-)
3 comments:
Hi,
Great blog.. found it from broadbandreports.com.
I don't want to disagree with you, but this thing your representative said:
"It is my belief that Congress should stay out of the way of innovation and allow the Internet to continue to grow without the restrictive hands of over-regulation and control."
That is what most anti-net neutrality folks say. That is usually a call to stop any sort of legislation to keep the Internet free.
Check out broadbandreports.com and any number of Net Neutrality debates and you will see the opponents making similiar statements.
Anyway, glad you are happy with DSL. I envy your position on the Utopia thing, I hope it comes to your town.
Adam said...
Hi,
Great blog.. found it from broadbandreports.com.
I don't want to disagree with you,
It's ok to disagree with someone. It's being disagreeable that's the problem these days :D
but this thing your representative said:
"It is my belief that Congress should stay out of the way of innovation and allow the Internet to continue to grow without the restrictive hands of over-regulation and control."
That is what most anti-net neutrality folks say. That is usually a call to stop any sort of legislation to keep the Internet free.
Actually that's what I thought until I read later when he was talking about legislation which would hopefully prevent any entity from turning the Internet into their own little playground. I'm sending more letters of course to confirm/clarify their position. I think most in Government understand the Internet is VERY important.
Check out broadbandreports.com and any number of Net Neutrality debates and you will see the opponents making similiar statements.
Anyway, glad you are happy with DSL. I envy your position on the Utopia thing, I hope it comes to your town.
I've been there now and then. Thing is I've already studied the problem and experienced something extraordinary. People arguing against it I believe are simply uninformed. A company should benefit from it's investment however we have laws against common carriers playing their little games for a reason.
For some reason I'm hearing when I talk to some people in Government "Government shouldn't be involved in Telecommunications". They don't understand the roads thing I keep talking about.
If anyone has a compelling argument/thought/quip I could use in countering that I appreciate it. I have several ideas and am kicking things around with people. I'm hoping may have come creative ideas in helping drive the point through.
I figure it couldn't hurt to ask for help :D
The only way these ISPs will learn is through competition. Get rid of Comcast people. They are the absolute worst. People today cannot get organized enough to do anything anymore. This is simple, get the word out.. COMCAST SUCKS. VERIZON RULES.. NYC is great place to put up banners and notices. It works.
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