Carriers: Google, Facebook, & Smarphone makers need to pay more money to use network

[Bateluer]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/08/european-carriers-want-content-companies-and-smartphone-makers-t/

How do you start a net neutrality debate without ever saying "net neutrality?" If you're a European wireless carrier like France Telecom, Telecom Italia, Telefonica, or Vodafone, you do it by just getting straight to the point: you say companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook need to start paying for continued network access because their devices and services use too much bandwidth. Yep, that's a straight-up network neutrality issue, but the carriers are framing it like it's an accounting problem -- and they're not being shy about wanting more cash to even out the books as they invest in next-gen networks. "It's necessary to put in place a system of payments by service providers as a function of their use," says France Telecom CEO Stephane Richard, while Telefonica CEO Cesar Alierta says that Google and Yahoo's free use of his network is a "tragedy" that "can't continue." (No, we're not making this up.)

In addition to shaking down service providers and device makers, European carriers are also following AT&T and Verizon to tiered data plans -- France Telecom is will move from unlimited pricing to something "more sophisticated," and the other networks expected to follow. What's most interesting to us is that the carriers are appearing to conflate bandwidth-heavy services like Facebook and YouTube with devices that customers use to access those services -- does it really make any sense to charge Apple or Google a fee for making good phones that encourage more network use, on top of charging users for tiered data? That's an unexpected -- and unfortunate -- twist on the standard net neutrality debate, and we're not so sure we want to see where it's going. Read the whole article at the source link, it's a good one

Not a fan of this stance. My Pro-Net Neutrality stance is pretty well known, I believe. And stories like this, and Comcast's latest L3/Netflix BS, really anger me.

These guys should remember that if you charge people more, they use less, earning them less money in the big picture. If I have to pay per GB(MB?) of data, then as a customer, I'm not going to use my phone to stream any kind of bandwidth heavy media. Media which carriers often sell. What I will do, however, is keep my phone connected to my home WiFi whenever possible, as well as hotspots available at most coffee shops, book stores, and many fast food restaurants. Guess what I can do at this hot spots? Make calls. So, now you lose revenue because people aren't using the data, you lose revenue because people are using fewer minutes, and you lose revenue because more people don't see the need for a 600 dollar phone when it has to drag so many carrier/network fees. Like buying a sports car and being forced to pull it with oxen at 5mph.

 

[SunnyD]

Carriers should be dumb pipes.

 

[gsaldivar]

Carriers should be dumb pipes.

This.

Exactly this.

 

[bruceb]

The cost should be on the User Side as they are the ones accessing the video / audio / data. All the smartphone makers are doing is providing a means of access to content on the web.

 

[sjwaste]

I'm paying for data, both at home and for mobile use. I pay, I use how I see fit. The carrier should not take an interest in the fact that I use Google heavily, or whatever else.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Carriers should be dumb pipes.

exactly. data is data. if you want to charge for tiered data, fine. it sucks but ill take it, but don't tell me i need to pay "more" for tethering 2gb than for facebooking 2gb.

and this is why ive been critical of AT&T for the longest time. I'll continue to bring my phone and gobblign data on their "$15 MediaNet plan"

 

[shortylickens]

Carriers should be dumb pipes.

Unfortunately with our Orwellian government tightening its grip on all media and private citizens & corporations suing each other left, right & center, its very unlikely that any data provider will be able to take a completely hands-off approach toward their service.

I remember the first time I got a weird result at the bottom of a google search leading me to chillingeffects.org or something. Apparently the search for regular porn I used also had turned up pedophilia in the past, so google had modified their results to not include such things. While I am fine with them not showing people how to get kiddie porn, it also sets a precedent for some sort of big brother controlling what we see and hear. In the grand scheme of things I believe thats worse. Pretty soon it will be anything the government doesnt want us to see or offends a single person.

Sorry, off topic.
Back on topic, if a business somehow gets the notion its in its best interest to modify how we access the internet based on whatever ridiculous standards they come up with, you can bet they will make some changes.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Yeah, and while your at it charge TV manufacturers for the cost of HD broadcasting...

 

[shortylickens]

Yeah, and while your at it charge TV manufacturers for the cost of HD broadcasting...

Why not? They already have a surcharge for gas guzzling on some new cars. Never mind the fact if its a gas guzzler you will be PAYING FOR MORE FUCKING GAS!
Morans. Fuck big brother.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I see their argument and understand where they're coming from. I don't like it but at some point we're either going to pay more somewhere. Either the providers will get their way and will get money from people like Google (who will then probably charge us) or we will just pay the provider more.

Don't worry, we'll pay one way or another.

 

[Bateluer]

I see their argument and understand where they're coming from. I don't like it but at some point we're either going to pay more somewhere. Either the providers will get their way and will get money from people like Google (who will then probably charge us) or we will just pay the provider more.

Don't worry, we'll pay one way or another.

People are irritated because of multiple charges. 2GB for general web use, 40 dollars. 2GB for tethering to a laptop. 30 dollars. 2GB for Facebook/Twitter, 30 dollars. 5GB for media streaming, 50 dollars. Of course, this would all be charged to the handset maker, the OS maker, and the media service as well.

Edit - Charge one group, and under one 'data plan'. Charge me 50 dollars for 5GB, fine. But I should be able to use that 5GB on the handset, tethered to a computer, or burn through it on Hulu. My choice.