Net Neutrality Seen Through the Telegraph

James McP writes "Ars Technica has a write-up on the unregulated telegraph of the 19th century, which gives a view into what could happen to an internet lacking any regulation mandating neutrality. The owners of the 'Victorian internet' used their control of the telegraph to prop up monopolies, manipulate elections, facilitate insider trading, and censor criticism."

Comments

As Humphrey Appleby said...

[iamvego]

... it's the thin end of the wedge.

So many differences, it doesn't make sense

[BadAnalogyGuy]

Comparing the Internet to the Telegraph?

I would have chosen a more appropriate comparison like the regrowth of injured legs on starfish, but maybe that's just me.

Re:So many differences, it doesn't make sense

[shawnap]

If anyone is qualified to make the call...

Re:If you ever thought about learning Morse

[jaggeh]

i wanted to write to you all in glorious morse code but slashdot doesnt like it
Filter error: Please use fewer 'junk' characters.

Re:You have NO IDEA about job rights

[Anonymous Coward]

> Your analogy FAILS because "to make me have sex with him/her as a condition of my employment." is illegal

Tell that to porn stars...

But...

[conureman]

we've learned so much in the last hundred years. We won't let them do that again. Right?

Re:No common sense

[plasmacutter]

The gas company is required to pump gas through its pipes, they cannot pump salad oil or dishwater without getting into trouble.

if I ran a gas company, I would TOTALLY pump dishwater on april fool's day.

Re:Duh

[halcyon1234]

"being truly machiavellian is an art rarely practiced outside of government." ...and a million executives howled with laughter, patted each other on the back,

Google News Results: Half a million advertising executives were found dead today with knife wounds to their backs...