Net Neutrality

[Chreamps]

Here's an issue (http://www.blogher.com/barack-obama-john-mccain-and-net-neutrality) we haven't discussed. To be honest, I hadn't even thought of it.

As a parent, I can see the stance on porn, but then I can also see it as affecting our rights to free speech.

As far as businesses and how they can manipulate pricing, downloads speeds, etc. Here they would be taking a "good" thing and using for their profit/advantage.

Still reading, and others may have some links to add.

[Microferk ~ Miki Ferkul]

Actually- I brought it up before the folders merged, but no one was interested at that point.
TBH, all it is, is a ploy by big business to psuh out all of the smaller businesses that have thrived with a free internet.

[lunafaerie]

Actually- I brought it up before the folders merged, but no one was interested at that point.
TBH, all it is, is a ploy by big business to psuh out all of the smaller businesses that have thrived with a free internet.

Totally, Net Neutrality is huge! What if our ISP's decided we could only shop for digi goods at Two Peas? This is an issue that I think all of us should really talk about. It's a big deal.

Here's a site for Net Neutrality, http://www.savetheinternet.com/, I honestly can't find anything on why the corporations are lobbying against it.

[Chreamps]

Actually- I brought it up before the folders merged, but no one was interested at that point.
TBH, all it is, is a ploy by big business to psuh out all of the smaller businesses that have thrived with a free internet.

Thanks, Miki, I must have missed it. Definitely, this is a big issue. I try reading more about it on your link, Tania, thanks.

[scribler]

At my house, we are huge supporters of Net Neutrality. And that articles is correct about the fact that I don't think most people understand the significance of it (other than those on Slashdot anyway). Think how much control the Internet Providers would have over us if there were no net neutrality, if they were legally able to make it easier to visit websites that paid them their fees. Very dismaying. Yet that is what will happen if we end net neutrality.

Both Obama and McCain have really used the Internet this time, especially Obama, yet they have little to say on the subject. I'd really like to know their stances on this issue.

[4noisyboys]

Very interesting. I had not heard anything on this till now!

[txmusicmom]

You mean DST might not be on my ISP's list?? :eek

Now THAT would be something to throw a major fit over.........

:cry:smackdown


Don't MESS with my digiscrapping rights-- right to freedom -- to roam where I please.......

;)

[Microferk ~ Miki Ferkul]

You mean DST might not be on my ISP's list?? :eek

Now THAT would be something to throw a major fit over.........

:cry:smackdown


Don't MESS with my digiscrapping rights-- right to freedom -- to roam where I please.......

;)

:lol Damn straight - I think we can ALL agree on that issue!

[Chreamps]

On the link I provided, if you scroll down there is a video of Obama talking about it. I think he said he was for net neutrality. My head is tired, though, so I'll try rereading tomorrow.

[scribler]

From what I gathered, he does support it but wants the government to define "net neutrality". Nothing good can come of that. :O)

[Microferk ~ Miki Ferkul]

Here is some info:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/10/29/obama-promises-to-reinsta_n_70317.html

Obama Promises To Reinstate Net Neutrality During First Year In Office
Your request is bei

October 29, 2007 06:00 PM

(http://buzz.yahoo.com/article/huffington_post/http%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%25 252F2007%25252F10%25252F29%25252Fobama-promises-to-reinsta_n_70317.html)

Today, Net Neutrality became a presidential campaign issue when Senator Barack Obama answered an enthusiastic "Yes!" along with a thorough response to a question posed during an MTV event by a member of MoveOn.org.
"Would you make it a priority in your first year of office to re-instate Net Neutrality as the law of the land?" asked Joe Niederberger, a New Jersey small business owner. "And would you pledge to only appoint FCC commissioners that support open Internet principles like Net Neutrality?"
Net Neutrality--known as the First Amendment of the Internet--is the principle that prevents Internet providers from choosing what websites their customers can access (often based on which websites pay the most money). It was the law of the land until companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast got the Bush-appointed FCC to slate it for elimination in 2005. For Net Neutrality to survive, it must be re-instated back into the law.
" I am a strong supporter of net neutrality," said Obama. "What you've been seeing is some lobbying that says [Internet providers] should be able to be gatekeepers and able to charge different rates to different websites...so you could get much better quality from the Fox News site and you'd be getting rotten service from the mom and pop sites. And that I think destroys one of the best things about the Internet -- which is that there is this incredible equality there...as president I'm going to make sure that is the principle that my FCC commissioners are applying as we move forward."


and the transcript of his Podcast:

Podcast Transcript
Hello, this is Senator Barack Obama and today is Thursday, June 8th, 2006.
The topic today is net neutrality. The internet today is an open platform where the demand for websites and services dictates success. You've got barriers to entry that are low and equal for all comers. And it's because the internet is a neutral platform that I can put on this podcast and transmit it over the internet without having to go through some corporate media middleman. I can say what I want without censorship. I don't have to pay a special charge. But the big telephone and cable companies want to change the internet as we know it. They say they want to create high-speed lanes on the internet and strike exclusive contractual arrangements with internet content-providers for access to those high-speed lanes. Those of us who can't pony up the cash for these high-speed connections will be relegated to the slow lanes.
Allowing the Bells and cable companies to act as gatekeepers with control over internet access would make the internet like cable. A producer-driven market with barriers to entry for website creators and preferential treatment for specific sites based not on merit, the number of hits, but on relationships with the corporate gatekeeper. If there were four or more competitive providers of broadband service to every home, then cable and telephone companies would not be able to create a bidding war for access to the high-speed lanes. But here's the problem. More than 99 percent of households get their broadband services from either cable or a telephone company.
So here's my view. We can't have a situation in which the corporate duopoly dictates the future of the internet and that's why I'm supporting what is called net neutrality. In the House, the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Judiciary Committee reached different conclusions on network neutrality. Judiciary Committee members voted to protect net neutrality and commerce voted with the Bells and cable. That debate is going to hit the House floor this Friday. In the Senate, Senators Snowe and Dorgan are leading the fight for net neutrality and I've joined in that effort. Senator Inouye, the ranking Democrat of the Commerce Committee, has joined us in this effort as well and he's working with Senator Stevens to put strong network neutrality into any Senate bill that comes before us. There is widespread support among consumer groups, leading academics and the most innovative internet companies, including Google and Yahoo, in favor of net neutrality. And part of the reason for that is companies like Google and Yahoo might never have gotten started had they not been in a position to easily access the internet and do so on the same terms as the big corporate companies that were interested in making money on the internet.
I know if you are listening to this podcast that you are going to take an intense interest in this issue as well. Congress is going to need to hear your voice because the Bell and cable companies are going to be dedicating millions of dollars to defeating network neutrality. So I'll keep you updated on this important issue and I look forward to talking to you guys again next week. Bye-bye.

http://obama.senate.gov/podcast/060608-network_neutral/

[Gina.Maria]

It's obvious he's thoroughly aware of the concept and I expect we can trust him to follow through in this area. I honestly don't see this as an area of strength for McCain. He's, despite the campaign's attempts to state otherwise, not particularly tech-savvy.