Google-Verizon Deal: The End of The Internet as We Know It

[onehandle]

On edit: Google has Tweeted a backpedal on this. So what are they up to?





For years, Internet advocates have warned of the doomsday scenario that will play out on Monday: Google and Verizon will announce a deal that the New York Times reports "could allow Verizon to speed some online content to Internet users more quickly if the content's creators are willing to pay for the privilege."

The deal marks the beginning of the end of the Internet as you know it. Since its beginnings, the Net was a level playing field that allowed all content to move at the same speed, whether it's ABC News or your uncle's video blog. That's all about to change, and the result couldn't be more bleak for the future of the Internet, for television, radio and independent voices.

How did this happen? We have a Federal Communications Commission that has been denied authority by the courts to police the activities of Internet service providers like Verizon and Comcast. All because of a bad decision by the Bush-era FCC. We have a pro-industry FCC Chairman who is terrified of making a decision, conducting back room dealmaking, and willing to sit on his hands rather than reassert his agency's authority. We have a president who promised to "take a back seat to no one on Net Neutrality" yet remains silent. We have a congress that is nearly completely captured by industry. Yes, more than half of the US congress will do pretty much whatever the phone and cable companies ask them to. Add the clout of Google, and you have near-complete control of Capitol Hill.

A non-neutral Internet means that companies like AT&T, Comcast, Verizon and Google can turn the Net into cable TV and pick winners and losers online. A problem just for Internet geeks? You wish. All video, radio, phone and other services will soon be delivered through an Internet connection. Ending Net Neutrality would end the revolutionary potential that any website can act as a television or radio network. It would spell the end of our opportunity to wrest access and distribution of media content away from the handful of massive media corporations that currently control the television and radio dial.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-silver/google-verizon-deal-the-e_b_671617.html

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Maybe GOOGLE is getting too big......

..and why is Obama silent on this?

Could he have replaced the FCC chairman already..assuming of course that his replacement would not be another corporate hack?

[DJ13]

2. ..and why is Obama silent on this?

Whatever business wants, business gets?

[SammyWinstonJack]

6. Yep! Hope and Change!

:evilgrin: :eyes: :puke:

[RKP5637]

5. Obama generally sides with corporations in USA, Inc.

[flyarm]

3. ahhh but above all we must etain both houses of congress..because if we don't repukes would allow

this to be done to us...

ahhh never mind..

[BrklynLiberal]

4. right...

x(

[superduperfarleft]

7. Google is denying it.

http://gizmodo.com/5605310/google-just-killed-net-neutrality

[raouldukelives]

8. But just think how fast porn and Fox News will be!

Of course those will be the only websites allowed load faster than dial-up speeds.

[LatteLibertine]

9. Not good

I can avoid most of their "content" now. I tend to avoid videos that have a commercial lead in. I also use pop up blockers and flash block. Flash content only works if I click on it and enable it for a specific item, by default it's off. I still have way more selective control over the internet vs TV currently. Yes, I know they're doing their best to end that control.

[NeedleCast]

10. Google Denies

Google was reached for comment and had this to say:

The NYT is quite simply wrong. We have not had any conversations with Verizon about paying for carriage of Google or YouTube traffic. We remain as committed as we always have been to an open Internet.