Internet 'net neutrality' is endorsed by FCC chief

[jaysunb]

Los Angeles Times:

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski proposes formalizing rules and adding mandates that he says would keep online traffic moving freely. The proposals would also cover wireless Internet service.

Monday's proposal by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski would ensure that consumers would be able to get whatever content they want on the Internet and to use any service they want.

But the telecommunications and the cable companies that control both land-line and wireless access to the Internet argue that some customers who download large amounts of data, such as a continuous flow of movies, can jam their networks. Regulations that prevent the companies from restricting such bandwidth hogs, they contend, would hamper their networks, harm innovation and delay upgrades.

The debate centers on so-called network neutrality principles that the FCC has been using for four years to prevent telecom companies, such as AT&T Inc. and Time Warner Cable Inc., from restricting access to websites and other online services.Text

more
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-fcc-netneutrality22-2009sep22,0,860229.story

[Hoopla Phil]

1. This could be VERY bad for D.U.

[jaysunb]

2. How so ?

:shrug:

[Romulox]

3. I'm sick of paying for cable stations I don't use. Why should I subsidize your internet use again?

You have to pay for the gas money to drive to Blockbuster, but I have to pay for your bandwith to stream films?

None of this makes any sense to me. I want to purchase the media services I want to pay for, and that's it. :shrug:

[Kalyke]

5. A la carte cable would be a dream, wouldn't it?

Too bad it's so difficult to break into the cable business with all the big boys hogging the cable lines and not offering products consumers want.

I'd ditch half the channels I pay for and only pay for those we, you know, actually watch.

[cbdo2007]

4. In a few more years, "streaming" or "downloading" will be the standard.

No more video stores. Your cable and internet will be one and most shows/movies will be On Demand or available to you.