DoJ To FTC: "Opposed To Net Neutrality"

[DeSwiss]

Justice Department Nixes Net Neutrality
Government Says ISPs Should Be Allowed To Charge A Fee For Priority Web Traffic

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2007

(AP) The Justice Department on Thursday said Internet service providers should be allowed to charge a fee for priority Web traffic. The agency told the Federal Communications Commission, which is reviewing high-speed Internet practices, that it is opposed to "Net neutrality," the principle that all Internet sites should be equally accessible to any Web user. Several phone and cable companies, such as AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and Comcast Corp., have previously said they want the option to charge some users more money for loading certain content or Web sites faster than others.

The Justice Department said imposing a Net neutrality regulation could hamper development of the Internet and prevent service providers from upgrading or expanding their networks. It could also shift the "entire burden of implementing costly network expansions and improvements onto consumers," the agency said in its filing. Such a result could diminish or delay network expansion and improvement, it added. The agency said providing different levels of service is common, efficient and could satisfy consumers.

As an example, it cited that the U.S. Postal Service charges customers different guarantees and speeds for package delivery, ranging from bulk mail to overnight delivery. "Whether or not the same type of differentiated products and services will develop on the Internet should be determined by market forces, not regulatory intervention," the agency said in its filing. The agency's stance comes more than two months after Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Deborah Platt Majoras cautioned policy makers to enact Net neutrality regulation.

Such a regulation could prevent rather than promote Internet investment and innovation and have "significant negative effects for the economy and consumers," the Justice Department said in the filing. Supporters of Internet regulation have said that phone and cable companies could discriminate against certain Web site and services. However, the agency said it will continue to monitor and enforce any anticompetitive conduct to ensure a competitive broadband marketplace.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/06/tech/main3240101.shtml

*** - "Will continue to monitor and enforce any anticompetitive conduct."

Aren't these the same guys who were trying to rig elections by getting legally registered voters dropped from the rolls? And indict innocent election officials? And bring forth bogus charges against elected officials right before an election? Right.

And they want someone to "trust" them to look out for the people. What is this, a parting shot be Fredo before he leaves? Shit, who the hell do they think they're kidding. Go fu*k yourself DoJ....

[zalinda]

1. We already are charged for different speeds

Cable, satellite, DSL, Wi'fi, dial-up............duh!

zalinda

[DeSwiss]

2. Yeah, like we're going to take advice about the internets....

...from people who don't have the sense or ability to delete an email.