Google/Verizon. The end of the internet as we know it.

[techs]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/technology/05secret.html?_r=1&hp

Google and Verizon Near Deal on Pay Tiers for Web

WASHINGTON — Google and Verizon, two leading players in Internet service and content, are nearing an agreement that 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 charges could be paid by companies, like YouTube, owned by Google, for example, to Verizon, one of the nation’s leading Internet service providers, to ensure that its content received priority as it made its way to consumers. The agreement could eventually lead to higher charges for Internet users.

Such an agreement could overthrow a once-sacred tenet of Internet policy known as net neutrality, in which no form of content is favored over another. In its place, consumers could soon see a new, tiered system, which, like cable television, imposes higher costs for premium levels of service.

Any agreement between Verizon and Google could also upend the efforts of the Federal Communications Commission to assert its authority over broadband service, which was severely restricted by a federal appeals court decision in April.




The worst thing that ever happened to the internet!

 

[StageLeft]

The worst thing that ever happened to the internet!

Maybe. The internet to me really feels about as important to commerce and life as electricity or running water (or at least not a terribly distant second). I do think it should in fact be heavily influenced by public regulation and afforded as little bullsh*t like this stuff you've quoted as possible.

 

[dfuze]

The agreement could eventually lead to higher charges for Internet users.

Providers are always looking for ways to charge more, now they will have an excuse.

 

[Ruptga]

like cable television

TV sucks, why would I want internet to be like TV?

 

[dfuze]

TV sucks, why would I want internet to be like TV?

I agree, I spend more time online that I do watching TV. Heck, when watching TV its usually something off the server!

 

[khon]

That's really bad news for all of us if it happens, though it's seemed all but inevitable since Comcast effectively ended net neutrality with their court case against the FCC.

Add this to the recent supreme court ruling giving corporations the right to pretty much buy elections, and you've got a serious problem.

 

[techs]

that's really bad news for all of us if it happens, though it's seemed all but inevitable since comcast effectively ended net neutrality with their court case against the fcc.

Add this to the recent supreme court ruling giving corporations the right to pretty much buy elections, and you've got a serious problem.

qfmft!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dwell]

I warned you all about Google. Don't blame me.

 

[acheron]

That's really bad news for all of us if it happens, though it's seemed all but inevitable since Comcast effectively ended net neutrality with their court case against the FCC.

Add this to the recent supreme court ruling giving corporations the right to pretty much buy elections, and you've got a serious problem.

Yes, because people have the right to assemble, and people have the right to free speech, but FSM forbid they speak *while* assembled! No way should we allow that!

 

[khon]

Yes, because people have the right to assemble, and people have the right to free speech, but FSM forbid they speak *while* assembled! No way should we allow that!

Corporations aren't assembled groups of people, that would be unions you're thinking of.

They have a fiduciary responsiblity to maximize their profits, not to represent those who work for them.

 

[Hacp]

I will not pay more than 20 dollars a month for internet. Period. I don't care if I'm on 1mbps DSL, if I need to pay a penny more, I will feel violated. This is before taxes and fees of course.

 

[Cogman]

Verizon has already been doing this with their mobile access. If you try and connect to their 3g network without being a Verizon customer, you get throttled like no other.

 

[Vette73]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/08/05/franken.net.neutrality/index.html?hpt=C2

Good write up from Al Franken on NN

 

[Kev]

How is google paying verizon going to cause verizon's prices to go up for their customers?

 

[SP33Demon]

Wasn't Obama a huge proponent of net neutrality? Ugh.

 

[Phokus]

b-b-b-b-b-b-ut spidey07 said this would never happen and net neutrality laws were unnecessary

 

[SpanishFry]

Wasn't Obama a huge proponent of net neutrality? Ugh.

here is an opportunity for him to do something meaningful.

 

[Raduque]

How is google paying verizon going to cause verizon's prices to go up for their customers?

Well, because now if you want the fast Youtube service that Google is paying for, you will need to pay Verizon more to get the tier that includes it.

Otherwise, Youtube traffic to you gets throttled and you have to wait 45 minutes for a 90 second video to buffer.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Well, because now if you want the fast Youtube service that Google is paying for, you will need to pay Verizon more to get the tier that includes it.

Otherwise, Youtube traffic to you gets throttled and you have to wait 45 minutes for a 90 second video to buffer.

That doesn't make sense though. Why would verizon charge more for a service they are getting paid to provide from the content end. Sounds like they would be fabricating the higher cost of the premium level of content as it would actually cost them less to provide than the lower level.

 

[Raduque]

That doesn't make sense though. Why would verizon charge more for a service they are getting paid to provide from the content end. Sounds like they would be fabricating the premium level of content as it would actually cost them less to provide than the lower level.

That is exactly what they want to do. Because not only would they throttle Youtube on your end if you don't pay for the teir that includes it, if Google didn't pay, Youtube would be throttled on the way into their network too.

 

[rivan]

That doesn't make sense though. Why would verizon charge more for a service they are getting paid to provide from the content end. Sounds like they would be fabricating the higher cost of the premium level of content as it would actually cost them less to provide than the lower level.

It's a price hike, plain and simple. It's no different than food companies leaving the price the same but shrinking the package size.

 

[HeXploiT]

I think google is throttling this thread. It took me three tries to get it to load.

 

[KeithTalent]

I think a lot of places already offer tiers up here. It's not a big deal to me, it's the same thing as cable; if you want the premium stuff, pay for it. These are businesses after all, what the hell do you expect?

KT

 

[Brainonska511]

I will not pay more than 20 dollars a month for internet. Period. I don't care if I'm on 1mbps DSL, if I need to pay a penny more, I will feel violated. This is before taxes and fees of course.

Good thing you don't have to pay for internet in your parents basement.

 

[SP33Demon]

I think a lot of places already offer tiers up here. It's not a big deal to me, it's the same thing as cable; if you want the premium stuff, pay for it. These are businesses after all, what the hell do you expect?

KT

While that's true, there's a big diff between companies who cap at 500K/1MB/2MB vs 2/5/15 (mine). I'd be pretty pissed if I was capped at 1 or less.