Posted April 26, 200619 yr Quote I just got wind of this today, but the House Energy and Commerce Committee is voting on something called the COPE Act that would essentially turn the internet from the free and open environment we know and love to a toll-booth ridden cash cow for the telecommunications industry here in America. If you want to know more, go to: http://www.savetheinternet.com I emailed my representatives and senators this morning, one of which happens to be on the Telecommunications Subcommittee of the HECC. I suggest you all do the same. There are already more votes against "net neutrality" than there are for it. 30 character limit....................
April 26, 200619 yr lol Any ISP that charges its customers extra to pay for "preferred access" on a carrier (tier-1 or otherwise) will lose tons of customers. What ISPs do is their own business, provided they fall within all applicable guidelines (FCC or otherwise), including charging extra if you don't use their other services. This provides the oppurtunity for other ISPs to offer their services at a cheaper rate, and lure away their customers. It's called COMPETITION, and it's good for the consumer. Some countries, like South Africa for example, have government-regulated/mandated telcom monopolies, and their users either pay extravagant fees, or go without internet. They have little choice. In the western world, we do have choice, and we should use it. If something isn't in the best interest of the public, the public will abandon it once it catches wind. This is the same reason why DRM and Trusted Computing will never work. So the internet isn't in trouble, this is just hyping up a less-than-desirable situation that is becoming more common.
