What is "Net Neutrality"?

[Eric J in MN]

Net Neutrality means keeping it illegal for companies such as AT&T to discriminate against websites.

Without it, AT&T could create its own political-discussion website and slow down "Democratic Underground" so much that we feel like we have to go there instead of here.

Without it, AT&T could create its own video website and slow down "YouTube" so much that YouTube visitors feel forced to go to the AT&T website.

John Kerry support "Net Neutrality." So do John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, and Mark Warner.

Please phone your Senators' offices and leave a message with a staffer that they should support "Net Neutrality."

[Freedom_Aflaim]

1. A bit backward, but essentially true.

Net Neutrality is about MAKING it illegal to discriminate against websites.

At the moment, its perfectly legal for a carrier to favor certain traffic over others.

At the moment, there is nothing stopping AT&T from slowing down YouTube, for any reason whatsoever.

[Eric J in MN]

2. The FCC last August ruled that AT&T could merge with SBC,

...but that it had to maintain "Net Neutrality" for a year which expires next month.

[Freedom_Aflaim]

3. Thats fine and a good point, but AT&T and SBC isnt the Internet

And the ruling is for a relatively short period of time.

SBC/AT&T are just two carriers and an FCC ruling for those two doesnt affect the remaining carriers, of which there are many, and the bulk of Internet traffic isnt routed via those carriers.

One of the largest is the AOL transit network which carries AOL proper, Road Runner and others. http://www.atdn.net/peering.shtml These guys are not bounded by Net Neutrality is any way RIGHT NOW

Net Neutrality is good thing, but the amount of FUD regarding isnt helping this goal.

[Eric J in MN]

4. AT&T is the leader in opposing "Net Neutrality."

They're the ones to be most wary of.

[Freedom_Aflaim]

5. Good point

And its entirely possible that other carriers are sitting by and letting AT&T do the "heavy lifting" and take the PR hits.

[Eric J in MN]

6. kick

kick

[Eric J in MN]

13. kick

kick

[madeline_con]

7. You mean what is it, don't you?

Wikipedia has a good explanation of it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_neutrality

[Eric J in MN]

8. Thanks. Here are examples of discrimination by ISPs:

...from the wikipedia article:

* In 2004, North Carolina ISP Madison River blocked their DSL customers from using any rival Web-based phone service. Service was restored after FCC intervention.

* In 2005, Canada's telephone giant Telus blocked customers from visiting a Web site sympathetic to the Telecommunications Workers Union during a contentious labor dispute.<33>

* Shaw, a major Canadian cable, internet, and telephone service company, intentionally downgrades the "quality and reliability" of competing Internet-phone services that their customers might choose.

[Eric J in MN]

9. kick

kick

[Eric J in MN]

10. kick

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[Uncle Joe]

11. Kicked and sorry I missed the deadline to recommend

:kick:

[Eric J in MN]

12. Thanks for the kick.

NT