According to an article in Wired, net neutrality is being threatened by an impending decision by the DC Circuit court, apparently the highest court in the land second only to the Supreme Court.
Net neutrality is the doctrine that ISPs like Comcast and AT&T may not play favorites with some sites over others, and that they may not block certain sites for any reason. This keeps the internet largely free, at least in the ideological sense.
Before net neutrality was firmly established, large ISPs had been contemplating—and even implementing—a plan to charge certain sites fees for bandwidth. Without net neutrality, there was a chance that sites like Google, which nearly everyone uses, would have to procure financial arrangements with the large ISPs in order to make sure user access to their service was unstoppered.
In the internet world, this makes a huge difference. Internet startups rely on quick load times to bolster confidence among users and ensure they have the best chance of developing a loyal user base. If access to their sites is slow or inconsistent, it is less likely they would be able to compete with their competitors. A repeal of net neutrality could change the landscape of the internet, creating ISP-operated “toll booths” front-ending the most popular sites, or creating pot-hole filled dirt roads to sites that, for whatever reason, are not willing or able to develop cooperative agreements with the biggest ISPs. The Wired article explains what would happen if the DC Circuit shoots down the current net neutrality laws:
The implications of such a decision would be profound. Web and mobile companies will live or die not on the merits of their technology and design, but on the deals they can strike with AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, and others. This means large phone and cable companies will be able to “shakedown” startups and established companies in every sector, requiring payment for reliable service. In fact, during the oral argument in the current case, Verizon’s lawyer said, “I’m authorized to state from my client today that but for these [FCC] rules we would be exploring those types of arrangements.”
This is more than just a financial situation. It is obviously designed to make more money for the ISPs to the detriment of internet users. But the ideological possibilities are what most trouble me. If net neutrality is struck down, ISPs will be allowed to choke or cut off site access for any reason whatsoever. This could quickly become politically important. The civil government itself could strike agreements with ISPs in order to silently remove or neutralize currently free internet sources of dissenting news. Our own site, which regularly posts articles critical of the political establishment, could see a marked decrease in usability.
Unfortunately, there is little we can do to stop this development. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see if even the last shreds of our freedoms are sold off to the highest bidder.
There is one thing we could do! STOP the gop from blocking the nominees to the 3 vacancies on the court.
What exactly does that have to do with Net Neutrality?
Mr Bob couldn’t care less about the topic of an article if his life depended on it. He couldn’t care less about facts either. While he may actually believe what he posts, the only thing he really cares about is personal attacks.
Not knowing anything about the 3 nominees, but assuming they were nominated by Obama, why would seating them be an advantage to our freedom, our liberty, our way of life, our Constitution, our future, the future of our children and grandchildren, and about a bazillion other things the liberals want to take away from us?
The Constitution??? Just who do you think fills them if NOT the president???
I know you are incredibly dense, what I am saying is that anyone appointed by Obama will VIOLATE the Constitution at every opportunity, THAT is why I DO NOT want anyone he appoints confirmed.
Teabag logic 101. you want to violate the constitution because you think Obama will appoint someone that will violate the constitution
They have to be approved. Approval is not automatic. I have no doubt you scream your lungs out every time a conservative is approved and seated, knowing he or she will not vote the way you want them to.
It’s PURE Republican obstruction they don’t want the vote. Elections have consequences. Sure, Dubya put tons of people on the bench that dem’s didn’t like but the dems let him put them there.
REALLY?????????????????????????????????
http://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=27dac90e-11a3-48d1-b970-19c2894530a5
From the article:
“It is a matter of historical record that beginning in 2001, Senate Democrats dramatically changed the confirmation process. Throughout the Bush administration, Democrats actively sought to block numerous judicial nominees, forcing more than 30 cloture votes as Republicans tried to end persistent Democratic filibuster efforts. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), voted against cloture a record-setting 27 times. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), cast 26 votes to filibuster Bush nominees and, in 2003, defiantly declared: “Yes, we are blocking judges by filibuster. That is part of the hallowed process around here.”
“
Go play Bobeeeeeeee you bore us.
Big government. Big corporations. Both want to screw the little guys to protect their bigness!
Aha. I smell a major rat here. Comcast owns NBC now. NBC is a news provider that has consistently favored President Obama in its reporting as well as in commentary. Comcast would like to have a big payday off Google, Yahoo!, etc.. So every liberal with an inside track will be helping his president on this one.
It is ironic to see this post on a site that advocates freedom. Net Neutrality is big government at its worst. It prevents companies from using their property as they see fit. Net Neutrality is “liberalism’s favorite dream” to paraphrase the tag of this site. A decision against Net Neutrality is a decision FOR freedom and against big government. You should be cheering not jeering.
While it ain’t as black and white, I do agree with you.
Thank you… For a good article on why Net Neutrality is both bad for the Internet as a whole and is bad government policy and anti-freedom see: http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2009/10/net-neutrality-means-an-unfree-slow-and-stupid-internet/
That’s very interesting. Thanks for the link!
On the bright side of things, if they slowed down Wikipedia we wouldn’t have to listen to that plagiarizing moron Rand Paul speak!!!
The islamic communist regime is STILL TRYING TO STOP ALL REAL NEWS! It only wants IT’S islamic communist “NEWS” so the FLAWED FREE INTERNET THREAT HAS GOT TO BE DESTROYED BY TAKING OVER IT! IT OFFENDS THE TYRANTS!