SDRNews: NetNeutrality Lobbying – The Usual Suspects
- Smart Grid Gets a Boost
- Roku’s New Hardware and Channels
- Net Neutrality Astroturf
 |
SDR News is a Daily (M-F) Technology Podcast with Tech News Highlights from Slashdot, Digg and Reddit
Click Here to Sign Up for the SDR Newsletter
Prefer a Direct Download ? (mp3)
Download today’s show.
If a news item has disappeared from the Del.icio.us list above, try the full list here.
SEARCH ANY STORY YOU HEAR ON THE PODCAST
More Info on Screencasts Online
Net Neutrality – the Usual Suspects
by Andrew McCaskey
Just like Casablanca
Now that the officail Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is set on the Net Neutrality issue, the net neutrality debate continues and now the heavy lobbying begins. The ISP’s and telcos maintain that the net runs on their equipment, and that they should have the freedom to do what they want with their investment, and maximize the return to their stockholders. Just like the Inspector, all you need to do is round up the usual suspects.
MacLife published an even handed assessment of both sides of the issue:
“One of the ways an ISP could ramp up profits is to make deals with Internet Application companies who would pay more to provide consumers with an optimum experience. If, say, your company streams video you could pay an ISP to ensure that viewers can access your service at the best possible speeds. So the people watching your videos will be happily munching popcorn while your competitor’s viewers are throwing their popcorn at their computer’s screen in frustration.
Pay-for-optimum-play service agreements would also affect small businesses and entrepreneurs. If you are a kid in a dorm room with a few bucks and a plan for the next Google, Twitter, YouTube or Facebook you may find that a big corporation can deliver a less-innovative offering more effectively because they can afford to pay ISPs for first class delivery service.”
The way that is going to end is going to be a triumph of the lobby power on both sides.
Government lobbying has a long and fairly sordid history. And there are a lot of accusations about “astroturf” the political grass roots campaign that’s not quite authentic grass roots. The recent stories about the Communications Workers union, various minorities and a good number of Democratic congressmen coming out against net neutrality have had a bit of “follow the money” flavor.
Do The Economics of Bandwidth Scale ?
Be sure to check out GoToMeeting. Why? Because you can hold meetings right over the Net — from anywhere. Plus, you can hold all the meetings you want for one flat rate. To get your free 30-day trial , visit www.gotomeeting.com/techpodcasts.
- Take 10% off any order at GoDaddy.com! Code SLASH
- Take $5 off any $30 order at GoDaddy.com! Code SDR530
- .com Domains $6.95 at GoDaddy.com! Code SLASH3
- More blogs about SlashdotReview and SDRNews…
