On 04/13/2010 04:20 PM, Lonnie Olson wrote: > Content providers pay to get their data on a network, networks > exchange data between each other (for free generally) in mutually > beneficial ways, and Content consumers pay to get the data from the > network. So now the Consumer's network wants to get paid by the > provider in addition. WTF?
My understanding is that this very issue is what is the driving force behind net neutrality proponents. It's not so much your ISP forging replies to your request, but rather deciding that Google doesn't pay them enough for you to connect to Google. Or an ISP's affiliate gets special treatment in terms of accessibility. While no single ISP is always in a monopoly position, this kind of arrangement is what brings about information cartels. Sites that are subversive (say open source sites) can be blocked simply by pricing them out of the market. Tell me how this is the free market at work. /* PLUG: http://plug.org, #utah on irc.freenode.net Unsubscribe: http://plug.org/mailman/options/plug Don't fear the penguin. */
