BellSouth Wants to Rig the Internet

PlayfullyClever writes "A senior telecommunications executive at BellSouth, said yesterday that Internet service providers should be allowed to strike deals to give certain Web sites or services priority in reaching computer users, a controversial system that would significantly change how the Internet operates. Some say Small Firms Could Be Shut Out of Market Championed by BellSouth Officer. William L. Smith, chief technology officer for Atlanta-based BellSouth Corp., told reporters and analysts that an Internet service provider such as his firm should be able, for example, to charge Yahoo Inc. for the opportunity to have its search site load faster than that of Google Inc." Next up, well dressed men go door to door collecting their monthly "protection money". 'It sure would be tragic if your users started getting 1500ms ping times, wouldn't it mister dot com?'

I for one...

[Anonymous Coward]

I for one welcome our new ISP Controlling Overlords

Capitalization.... I Just Can't Take It Any More!

[ejamie]

...ah that's better.

That's just great.

[Poromenos1]

While we're at it, why don't we just sell the internet to Microsoft or some other big corporation and be done with it?

Re:They just never quit

[pilgrim23]

This is merely proof of the Pointy Haired Syndrome: Suits by their nature are not technically competent to make decisions yet they are the ones in charge. This principle applies in every human endeavor. Don't worry, be happy and file a memo...

You have *got* to be kidding

[hazmat2k]

I can imagine the new generation of Spam now. "M4K3 YUR S1T3 L04D F4S73R TH4N T3H C0MP371710N"

They will fail

[Profane MuthaFucka]

Bell South is damaged. Adjust your routing tables accordingly.

This Internet

[Jotii]

This Internet will never work. I'm going to start my own.

Re:please fix your website

[MillionthMonkey]

$404 File Not Found
The requested URL was not found.

If you want to buy this page load, mail the $404 in cash in an envelope addressed to

BellSouth Corporation Headquarters
1155 Peachtree St. NE
Suite 404
Atlanta, GA 30309-3610

Fifty-fifty

[trollable]

I think they should do it. Cut the bandwidth. 50% for the web, 50% for gopher.

Re:They just never quit

[Taladar]

Yeah, we will take your money and throw you out of the plane half an hour before the landing.

Re:They just never quit

[timster]

That would be awesome.

"Attention please, this is your captain speaking. We're going to be delayed as there is heavy traffic at our destination airport and it will take another half hour for us to get permission to land. First class customers, please proceed to the skydiving hatch; you will be landing by parachute in 5 minutes. Please remember that you are allowed to use cell phones during the descent, but be careful not to drop them when your chute deploys. Thank you."

Re:They will fail

[Profane MuthaFucka]

Fidonet!

Re:They just never quit

[masklinn]

Please, pretty please, could I get to rent a flat in the fantasy world in which you're living?