Net Neutrality At Risk
Comcast and Netlix are in a dispute involving a fee that Comcast wants to impose on streaming video like Netflix. Could this be the issue that wakes up America to the issue of net neutrality?
Level 3 Communications, a central partner in the Netflix online movie service, accused Comcast on Monday of charging a new fee that puts Internet video companies at a competitive disadvantage.
Level 3, which helps to deliver Netflix’s streaming movies, said Comcast had effectively erected a tollbooth that “threatens the open Internet,” and indicated that it would seek government intervention. Comcast quickly denied that the clash had anything to do with network neutrality, instead calling it “a simple commercial dispute.”
The dispute highlighted the growing importance of Internet video delivery — an area that some people say needs to be monitored more closely by regulators. Net neutrality, which posits that Internet traffic should be free of any interference from network operators like Comcast, is thought to be on the December agenda of the Federal Communications Commission.
“With this action, Comcast demonstrates the risk of a ‘closed’ Internet, where a retail broadband Internet access provider decides whether and how their subscribers interact with content,” Thomas C. Stortz, the chief legal officer for Level 3, said in a statement Monday.
Net neutrality for some reason has become a partisan issue and I’m not sure why. I think the fact that it’s really been an abstract issue for most has a lot to do with it. The supposedly liberation-minded Tea Parties have come out against net neutrality. Perhaps when they can’ get their Netflix they’ll change their minds?
Tags: Net Neutrality
I am reluctant to enter this fray…, primarily because I am not well-acquainted with the issues. Consider these ‘devil’s advocate’ questions, rather than an attack (which it is NOT).
My AT&T cell phone contract has two fee levels, for limited and unlimited broadband monthly usage.
At home I use netflix to stream video to my blue-ray wireless-connected player. it is way-cool.
With this netflix feature, my usage of my (verizon fios) home internet service has certainly jumped substantially.
does net neutrality mean that verizon fios is forbidden from offering multiple price points, for multiple usage patterns, and that those like me who have heavy usage (due to video streaming) pay the same as those who use less bandwidth, resulting in low-users having to pay more to make up for equipment upgrades required by high-users?
This is a capitalistic country. Is it any surprise that the internet fall victim to the same big-business greed that every other …. everything.. has fallen victim to?
If there is a way it can be exploited and profited off of, big business will find a way.
Consider health care…. you have the doctor and the patient… yet somehow “health insurance” was invented so a third party could get their dollar without really having to do anything other than letting sick people die, and making everyone fill out paper work.
The internet is similar. Parties who have nothing to do with the content, or the production, or in some cases the access will find a way to make money off of it. Im surprised it has lasted this long.
Of course any attempt to keep the internet for the people and free will be labled “evil nazi socialism” by the likes of $t. Sarah, brother Glenn, and of course…. David.
does net neutrality mean that verizon fios is forbidden from offering multiple price points
No. ISPs can offer tiered pricing with or without Net Neutrality. Comcast and Verizon have chosen to offer their service for a fixed monthly price. That is their own business decision. That business model only works if most customers don’t actually consume much data.
They can change that any time they want, and start offering tiered pricing or usage-based fees. Actually they already do offer tiered services based on alleged speed, not total usage.
Currently, everybody is getting paid. Netflix is already paying Level 3 for the bandwith it consumes. You and I are already paying Comcast for the data we consume, under Comcast’s own terms. But now Comcast wants to get paid twice when it handles Netflix content.
Net Neutrality means that Comcast or Fios has to let all traffic pass equally, and can’t block or degrade or charge more for any particular content. Under Net Neutrality they can still manage their network performance; for example, giving priority to all telephone service over all streaming video. But they would not be allowed to block valid data from any legal content provider.
It is not about “how much” data you consume; it is about “whose” data you consume. Comcast can raise prices or impose usage fees any time it wants. But it has raised prices so much already, more increases will reduce their market share even more.
“Net neutrality for some reason has become a partisan issue and I’m not sure why. I think the fact that it’s really been an abstract issue for most has a lot to do with it. The supposedly liberation-minded Tea Parties have come out against net neutrality. Perhaps when they can’ get their Netflix they’ll change their minds?”
It has become a partisan issue because it is an issue… that is, the T-tards will oppose anything that the progressive MIGHT support. It doesn’t matter that they are surrendering their rights to CEOS, the Tpartiers have no brains, no real identity, no thought process…. They do whatever their masters in Fox tell them and aren’t smart enough to understand the consequences.
this could have a devastating effect on free internet porn.
My Comcast and FIOS-free media center is shaping up nicely.
Netflix – $7.99/month.
Boxee – free
Boxee lets you install different “apps” to get various types of free content. “clicker.com” is a good one for current TV shows on demand.
and my next project:
Over-the-air HD channels – free.
It all runs on a spare computer (plus the Wii for Netflix, to take advantage of the Wii remote). All it needs is a commodity Internet connection which could be either Comcast, Verizon, or anybody else that comes along. This is what terrifies Comcast.
With Netflix, plus all the free video on demand out there, my instinct to hoard content is waning. I don’t even feel the need to have a DVR, although I can install one for free on the computer if I want.
I just discovered that someone set up some kind of wifi to broadcast wireless TV in my area when I connected an coathanger to my cable input jack. Amazing future times we live in. Now where the fuck is my jetpack ?