Coalition Sounds Off on Net Neutrality Legislation

DarqFallen writes to tell us that lately everyone has been talking about a tiered internet, though it seems there are other problems on the horizon as well. PCMag has the latest sound-off from the new SavetheInternet.com coalition. From the article: "Vint Cerf, so-called 'father' of the Internet, is among the big names and organizations that have come together to create the SavetheInternet.com Coalition, which hosted a national conference call [yesterday]. [...] [yesterday's] conference call is one of the coalition's many campaign tactics to emphasize the importance of 'Net neutrality,' the concept of a free and open Internet." The main topic of conversation was the latest bill from congress, the "Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancements Act of 2006."

Re:Vint Cerf works for Google

[VValdo]

I'm sick tired of our rights being taken away because of some submarine legislations (DMCA, patriot act, etc. etc).

Aw, you ain't seen nothin' yet... [com.com]

W

Re:Fight for Network Neutrality at the local level

[ewhac]

It's simple. We say to the telecoms: If you want to run a cable franchise in our town then you need our permission. If you want out permission then you will agree to respect the tenets of Network Neutrality.

I wish you the very best of fortune in this endeavor, but fear that it won't be quite that simple.

First, if the CableCo does discriminate against packets, you'll have to prove it. This can be quite difficult, depending on how the CableCo decides to set up its routing tables (City Hall gets full bandwidth on all packets, 'cause that's where investigations would be launched).

Next, when you move to fine the CableCo or revoke their franchise, they'll hang you up in lawsuits for 12 years, arguing all the way to the Supreme Court that the Network Neutrality provision in the franchise contract was

1. unconscionable;
2. unenforceable because FCC regs trump any municipal aberrations;
3. only applies to packets travelling entirely within the franchising municipality -- everything originating or terminating outside it is subject to standard discriminatory pricing; or
4. all of the above.

Schwab

Guerrilla.net

[not-admin]

Google Cache [72.14.203.104]. Always helpful.