Free speech itself is not so much the issue, as presented by most who would argue for net neutrality, but rather application/traffic type. If it were not for the change in the way network traffic has evolved, moving from a bursty/intermittent type of traffic to a constant, high bit rate streaming, there would probably not be much of an issue, as most ISPs don't really care so much what you say or view over their networks. Those ISPs who have fallen afoul of the NN advocates have done so primarily because they were attempting to address a particular type of traffic pattern, rather than whatever content may have been transmitted in that traffic pattern. (e.g. bittorrent, lots of connections, constant streaming at high bandwidth utilization)
Although I hesitate to use analogies... If I own a public restaurant, I reserve the right to refuse service to anybody who is determined to converse with other patrons in that restaurant by shouting everything they say, Likewise, if they choose to communicate using smoke signals, (cigarette or otherwise) I or the State/City have rules regarding that, and will restrict their speech in that manner. What they are communicating is immaterial. While they DO have a right to free speech, arguing that they should be allowed to communicate that speech via smoke signals, and subsequent complaints about the infringement of their free speech right by restricting the way in which they choose to communicate is somewhat disingenuous. There are really two different issues in play here. Conflating them under the banner of free speech does not address both issues adequately. John Jack Unger wrote: > The government is actually protecting your freedom to access any > Internet content you choose and your freedom to say whatever you want to > say. > > The arguement that you can just move to another ISP is false because, as > most WISPs know, many rural citizens don't have ANY ISP or maybe just > one wireless ISP to choose from therefore they can't just "move to > another ISP if the first ISP doesn't like what they have to say and > shuts them off. Further, even if you have more than one ISP, how are you > going to get the news or get your opinions out if BOTH ISPs (or ALL > ISPs) disagree with your opinion and shut you off. > > Your arguement is like saying "I enjoy Free Speech" right now but I > don't want the government to interfere in order to protect my Free > Speech when AT&T doesn't like what I have to say and shuts my Internet > service off. If AT&T wants to take your Free Speech away then you are > saying to the Government "Hey, let them take it! I'd rather lose my > freedom then have you telling AT&T what to do. STOP protecting my Free > Speech right now!!!". > > > > Mike Hammett wrote: > >> What I don't like about it is another case of the government telling me what >> to do. More regulations is less freedom. If someone doesn't like the way >> ISP A operates, move to ISP B. If they don't like ISP B, find ISP C, or >> start ISP C, or maybe you shouldn't be doing what you're wanting to in the >> first place. >> >> >> ----- >> Mike Hammett >> Intelligent Computing Solutions >> http://www.ics-il.com >> >> >> >> >> From: Jack Unger >> Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 4:38 PM >> To: WISPA General List >> Subject: Re: [WISPA] Net Neutrality >> >> >> Congress and the FCC would define "reasonable". It's their job to write the >> laws and make the rules. >> >> Net neutrality (NN) is about "free speech". NN would prohibit your carrier >> from delaying your packets or shutting off your service because they didn't >> like what you had to say or what web site you wanted to surf or post to. NN >> is "anti-censorship" therefore NN is "pro-freedom". >> >> If you write a letter to your local newspaper, the editor can refuse to >> print it. WITHOUT Net Neutrality, your carrier can decide to block your >> packets. Net neutrality is about remaining a free nation. What's not to like >> about that? >> >> >> Josh Luthman wrote: >> Who's definition of unreasonable... >> >> On 9/19/09, Jack Unger <jun...@ask-wi.com> wrote: >> The proposal doesn't say you have to provide unlimited bandwidth. >> Reasonable network management policies are allowed. >> >> Robert West wrote: >> Another unfunded mandate. If I were to provide net neutral broadband the >> price would be $120 per meg. Maybe my customers would understand if I >> explained how it's net neutral. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> From: wireless-boun...@wispa.org [mailto:wireless-boun...@wispa.org] On >> Behalf Of Blair Davis >> Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 2:02 PM >> To: WISPA General List >> Subject: [WISPA] Net Neutrality >> >> >> >> It's back.... >> >> http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,552503,00.html?test=latestnews >> >> >> >> >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >> http://signup.wispa.org/ >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >> >> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >> >> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >> >> >> >> -- >> Jack Unger - President, Ask-Wi.Com, Inc. >> Author - "Deploying License-Free Wireless WANs" >> Serving the Broadband Wireless Industry Since 1993 >> www.ask-wi.com 818-227-4220 jun...@ask-wi.com >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> WISPA Wants You! 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