Bill to allow internet "Gatekeeping"

[Avery]

We have been looking into other high speed internet options, Verizon plans on controlling access speed, etc, and we just learned that there is a bill pending that would allow internet providers to not only charge for increased speed, but also block access to competitors.

There is a petitiion circulating, please take a few minutes to read the info on the site and sign a petition to maintain equal access:

This appears to be pretty serious.

http://www.savetheinternet.com/

Avery

 

[pwrshift]

Surely in America free enterprise will win in the end. If Verizon places limits their competitors may not, so there remains a choice for customers. It's a competitive business and the best deal for the customer wins. Everyone hates spam and phishing, yet it is getting worse - controls won't work on the internet IMO.

Brian

 

[Icarus]

Net neutrality is important, Brian. Read the stuff.

-David

 

[geoffb]

This is only a competitive business in urban areas... large rural and suburban population areas have only a single provider or maybe two.

 

[Gadabout]

This is only a competitive business in urban areas... large rural and suburban population areas have only a single provider or maybe two.

Lots of rural areas barely have dial-up, and not very reliable dial-up at that....

 

[taffy19]

Lots of rural areas barely have dial-up, and not very reliable dial-up at that....

Yes, I found this out from a friend who lives in CO in a very isolated area. I could not believe what she told me.

Are we not controlled already by what telephone or cable company we can use in our local area where we live? We are with Verizon. You can choose different DSL services but they are still through Verizon. Verizon gives us top speed but it may be controlled by the DSL company that has different speeds for different subscription prices.

I am much more concerned about the Government wanting to get involved with the Internet like they are in China. They filter out what they don't want the public to know and this may start here too. You have to take what you read on the Internet with a grain of salt and see who is behind it. I would read this article too but kids could be protected by using the filter that comes with Microsoft and other private companies like there are now for viruses and SPAM and phising too. I just hope that private industry will offer us the choice to buy and use it or not.

I hope this is not a political post. If it is, it will be deleted. If the Government gets involved, it becomes politics. JMHO. However, we need to read as much as we can about what is going on here and who is behind it.