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AT&T Proposes Net Neutrality Compromise
An anonymous reader writes: The net neutrality debate has been pretty binary: ISPs want the ability to create so-called "fast lanes," and consumers want all traffic to be treated equally. Now, AT&T is proposing an alternative: fast lanes under consumer control. Their idea would "allow individual consumers to ask that some applications, such as Netflix, receive priority treatment over other services, such as e-mail or online video games. That's different from the FCC's current proposal, which tacitly allows Internet providers to charge content companies for priority access to consumers but doesn't give the consumers a choice in the matter."
AT&T said, "Such an approach would preserve the ability of Internet service providers to engage in individualized negotiations with [content companies] for a host of services, while prohibiting the precise practice that has raised 'fast lane' concerns." It's not perfect, but it's probably the first earnest attempt at a compromise we've seen from either side, and it suggests the discussion can move forward without completely rejecting one group's wishes.
AT&T said, "Such an approach would preserve the ability of Internet service providers to engage in individualized negotiations with [content companies] for a host of services, while prohibiting the precise practice that has raised 'fast lane' concerns." It's not perfect, but it's probably the first earnest attempt at a compromise we've seen from either side, and it suggests the discussion can move forward without completely rejecting one group's wishes.
Subject line says it all. You want to kill 6 babies, I want to kill none. A compromise to only kill 3 is not a good thing.
So we let AT&T know certain businesses are important to us and from which they can try to extort money? AT&T: Nice business you have here. According to our records 15000 people requested that we make your traffic to your site faster. We have a few different options that can suit your needs. Random Business: What if we don't pay you extra for something your customers already paid for. AT&T: Well we are disappointed you would think of it like that. We are here to help you and to help you see the light we will continue slowing your traffic until you sign up for our "business protection plan".
Newsflash: ATT attempts to create straw man argument to distract from issue of net neutrality. Watch this thread for breaking new.
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