will the internet be owned by AT&T, BellSouth & Verizon?--Sen Steven

[rodeodance]

would agree to that as he fills his coffers.



http://esterrepublic.blogspot.com/2006/05/ted-stevens-vs-net-neutrality.html
Thursday, May 18, 2006

Ted Stevens vs. net neutrality
Senator Stevens' telecom bill will change internet regulation such that internet servers can distort what appears on a search or limit content posted according to what you can pay--or perhaps, what they don't want you to see. Here's what Buzzflash has to say about it:

The United States Congress is currently drafting a bill known as “The Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Efficiency Act of 2006”, known as “COPE.” This means privatizing the Internet, by allowing such private corporations as AT&T, BellSouth, Verizon and others to actually own it, and, in the process operate the Internet and other digital communications services as private networks. The bill very, very clearly states that “certain classes of Internet providers may-- not unreasonably-- impair, interfere, restrict or limit applications or services such as Web sites or voice-over IP phone connections.”

So the public will no longer have open access to the web. We'll only have what the big guys want us to see (unless we already know exactly where the information is, or the info provider happens to find a free and open service provider). Read Josh Silver's discussion of the regulations and net neutrality--and the megabucks these companies are trying to make off us.

And this bill is all very chummy, as Jason Lee Miller points out in his Webpronews.com column: Stevens' biggest campaign contributors include those who would benefit most by this legislation--News Corp., Verizon, Viacom, AT&T, Sprint...are we surprised that our senator is apparently bought and paid for?
...............

[Solo_in_MD]

1. If you were not aware of it, the Internet has always been privatly owned

Not that I agree with the push for differential service

[lpbk2713]

2. Something like this would be a windfall

for proxy hosts outside the USA.

It could be so profitable they might be lobbying for it right now.