Re: AUGD: Save the web from multi-tiered internet
Re: AUGD: Save the web from multi-tiered internet
- Subject: Re: AUGD: Save the web from multi-tiered internet
- From: email@hidden
- Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2006 18:15:54 EDT
Hi John - I hope you'll forgive me making this letter public.
Our MUG, also, does not usually engage in political discourse, but our interest in all things Macintosh make this hit close to home.
Now I brag about how easy crusin' the 'net is on my Mac. Anything that can disrupt this concerns me, and I hope all Mac users.
Driving home tonight I heard a report on National Public Radio's All things considered. Their online story is at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5472141
The vote in the House may come as early as tonight. The Senate may vote by the end of next week. This is something for all of us Mac users in the internet.
Here is the letter I sent to my Representative and Senators in D.C. Pro or con, whatever your position, I think its an issue for all web surfers.
Gary Kampel
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I have been receiving e-mail alerts informing me that my internet access is under siege.
They write me that last year the Federal Communications Commission eliminated the rules that kept companies from discriminating against content providers to the internet.
One "theoretical" snare: "Let's say that I want to buy a widget on the internet. I search the web and discover that The XYZ Widget Company has just what I want, but so does the ABC WidgetWorks, Inc.
I click on both internet links and ABC loads into my computer in a flash, but XYZ does not. In fact, for XYZ I wait, and wait, and wait. The page will not open.
It is discovered that ABC (a division of MegaHuge Products, Inc.) paid a fee to their service provider, MaBell (Reorganized), Ltd., for premium top-tier Web-access service to ensure fast access on the world wide web.
XYZ, a small Cupertino-based business run out of its founders Mother's garage, did not.
Now Congress faces a legislative decision. Will you reinstate net neutrality and keep the Internet free? Or will you let it die?
The current legislation would allow firms (like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast) to create different tiers of online service. They would be able to sell access to the express lane and relegate everyone else to the digital equivalent of a winding dirt road.
This sounds to me like restraint of trade, and is opposed to the American dream that even the little guy has a chance in a free and open market.
I am curious as to your opinion, and hope that you share my concern and will vote in favor of the network neutrality bill.
Gary E. Kampel
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