The End of the Internet? (Plans of Telephone & Cable Companies)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060213/chester

The nation's largest telephone and cable companies are crafting an alarming set of strategies that would transform the free, open and nondiscriminatory Internet of today to a privately run and branded service that would charge a fee for virtually everything we do online.

Verizon, Comcast, Bell South and other communications giants are developing strategies that would track and store information on our every move in cyberspace in a vast data-collection and marketing system, the scope of which could rival the National Security Agency. According to white papers now being circulated in the cable, telephone and telecommunications industries, those with the deepest pockets--corporations, special-interest groups and major advertisers--would get preferred treatment. Content from these providers would have first priority on our computer and television screens, while information seen as undesirable, such as peer-to-peer communications, could be relegated to a slow lane or simply shut out.

Under the plans they are considering, all of us--from content providers to individual users--would pay more to surf online, stream videos or even send e-mail. Industry planners are mulling new subscription plans that would further limit the online experience, establishing "platinum," "gold" and "silver" levels of Internet access that would set limits on the number of downloads, media streams or even e-mail messages that could be sent or received.

To make this pay-to-play vision a reality, phone and cable lobbyists are now engaged in a political campaign to further weaken the nation's communications policy laws. They want the federal government to permit them to operate Internet and other digital communications services as private networks, free of policy safeguards or governmental oversight. Indeed, both the Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are considering proposals that will have far-reaching impact on the Internet's future. Ten years after passage of the ill-advised Telecommunications Act of 1996, telephone and cable companies are using the same political snake oil to convince compromised or clueless lawmakers to subvert the Internet into a turbo-charged digital retail machine.

[napi21]

1. I don't see this happening in MY lifetime!

Now, I'm 62, so maybe that doesn't mean much to you, but although I'm sure these Companies would LOVE to do just that, there are a whole lot of other businesses who would fight them tooth and nail, and so would most of the Public!

[tom_paine]

3. You are fortunate in your age. This is a good time to be old

Did I ever think I would say something like that in my life? Certainly not from the cozy confines of The Old American Republic (1776-2000, RIP old friend).

But it is quite true now.

I ptiy those younger than me. I envy those older.

[shraby]

2. They better consider their plans carefully.

Access to the internet is an easy thing to boycott. Mass disconnections just might be in order if they try it.

[enough]

4. kick

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

You certainly cannot have too much of a good thing, lest some greedy bastards try to take it from you.

:kick:

[wtmusic]

6. kick nt

[winston61]

7. I lived well before the net and when the telecoms

fuck it up for fun and profit, I can pull the plug.