Some great thoughts on the whole Net Neutrality fleecing. This is not following the intent of Net Neutrality, nor can it ever be as long as it is classified as a utility. While I agree there need to be some set of laws to prevent anti-competition from ISPs, regulating the Internet as a utility enters dangerous territory.
To impose a new rule against throttling content or using the market price system to allocate bandwidth resources protects against innovations that would disrupt the status quo. — Jeffrey Tucker
Read the full article below for a more in-depth explanation of why this is not the best way forward.
Also, Mark Cuban is absolutely right:
Let’s just take it all the way through its logical conclusion. All bits are bits, all bits are equal. If all bits are equal, then let’s look at what a stream bit is an example. So when Henry and I do an interview, and it’s streamed lived on the Internet, there’s a camera, it goes through an encoder, it sends it out via server or some manner to the Internet, you click on Business Insider and you watch the stream, right? Now, let’s look at CNBC on Comcast. There’s cameras right in front of you, they go through a switcher, they go through an encoder, it’s put through a server, it goes to Comcast, and it’s streamed in a managed service environment to television. It’s the exact same thing. And if it’s the exact same thing technologically and all bits are equal, then why shouldn’t CNBC and all TV networks that are delivered on cable, and Telco, and fiber like Verizon, why shouldn’t they be part of the open Internet as well? And if they are and all bits are equal, now, let’s take it one step further. It’s the purview of the FCC now. The FCC, right? So, the FCC now has to apply their same standards to content, don’t they, that they do to television content because that’s where it is and there’s going to be certain citizens who think ‘well now, since all content is delivered over the Internet because all bits are bits, and it’s a fair, and open, and equal Internet — decency standards.’ And remember the FCC is the same agency that fought Nipplegate for eight years over a wardrobe malfunction.
A few court cases should be enough to set us up for some rough years ahead with the FCC at the helm, deciding what is acceptable within our “open” Internet. As for me, my future vote will go to those willing to fight for a truly open Internet.
