Some bills have had language that sort this out very well (see the Markey amendment that was shot down on Thursday night), while some haven't really covered it. Others still have completely taken the wrong stance, and completely misinterpreted the point of Net Neutrality, in an effort to shun out any talk of it. (see Gonzalez's amendment - a poison pill that shows a clear misunderstanding of the issues.)
There has been some talk about wording, but it all gets dicey. Right now, the COPE bill gives the FCC the necessary mouth to adjudicate hearings about Neutrality violations, but it doesn't give the FCC any teeth to enforce punishment!
This seems like a huge waste--why shouldn't we have the ability to shape our bandwidth based on our needs? Obviously there's room for abuse (such as Comcast blocking or degrading VoIP packets from competing companies, but leaving its own alone) but aren't we throwing the baby out with the bathwater by disallowing any sort of discrimination based on packet contents?
Or am I just completely misunderstanding the whole "net neutrality" thing?
Yeah, it's a small distinction, but a powerful one.
The whole point of Net Neutrality is not to make everything neutral, as the telcos want you to believe....the point is to have fairness. So if you're using Vonage VoIP, or using Skype VoIP, or ANY other VoIP, it's okay to prioritize those packets so long as you prioritize everyone's VoIP traffic exactly the same.
That's where the telcos want to confuse people. And they're doing a great job with this confusion *grumble, grumble*.
Well, it's not quite as black and white as you paint it.
It's strange how much we detest government regulation in televsion, radio and voice services, but suddenly we're begging for in on the internet.
Actually, this is the way it's been for years. The FCC recently (last year, I believe) turned over regulations that were keeping this sort of thing from happening. We're not endorsing new regulations, we're just asking to go back to the previous ones - they were there for a REASON.
Why isn't it reasonable that if a company is making money by using someone else's resources- they should have to pay for it? When send my customers packages, I have to pay UPS to deliver them. This isn't any different.
Google, et. al. already DO pay. They pay to access the Internet. What could happen is that they will have to pay more, based on the fact that many users use their service (which is already covered plenty by the internet access they pay for), or will have to pay protection/racketeering money to the ISPs to keep their competitors from outpaying them and, in effect, out-accessing them. BellSouth,among many many others, wants to be able to differentially prioritize customers based on how much extra money they pay them - giving the people with $ a huge advantage and the people without, well...they're SOL since their packets will be pushed to the back of the line.
In short, nothing like UPS at all. You aren't prevented from getting your package to your customers if you decide to use USPS instead.
With the increase of bandwidth consumption by sites like google video and youtube, someone is eventually going to have to pay to upgrade the infrastructure. Why not charge the companies that are making money off of it? (as opposed to me, who is only wasting money on it)
Two Hundred Billion Dollars were set aside for this purpose EXACTLY. To charge people TWICE is just a ridiculous way of getting more money.
--------------------
This users' post is hard evidence that the telcos and cable companies have been working a vigorous disinformation campaign. No-one knows exactly what the whole issue is about, and many of the shills hired by those companies promote the idea that EMTs won't be able to get patient information over the Internet if "neutrality" is passed. This completely glosses over the ACTUAL definition of Net Neutrality, and defines it in a very dumbed-down way that unites the masses against the issue. It makes me physically ill...
Public Knowledge is working for you, the consumer. Head over there, get informed, and let's do something about this!
Same problem with VHS tapes, CDs, audio tapes, books, books on tape....what are you going for? A worldwide ban on library materials? DRM in the library? Or, just a first post on slashdot?
Well, what it does is this - it removes the fog of war completely. That sounds good, but keep in mind that EVERYONE loses it, so now those #*^&%! Zulus can see all of your units, and Diploblitz you at the proper time...
It's made obsolete with the advancement of Electricity, though. Years after the sun is created, it's discovered that it's not serving enough of a purpose.
Finally, it seems, there is a corporation willing to stand up to all of the bullshit that is so prevalent in today's business-Internet melange. It always seems techies are on one side, and business people are on another.
There is a company whose business people are with the nerds.
It might seem crazy now, but it is hard to think of companies that really suffered (to the extent of exiting the industry) when they changed their brand names. Quality determines whether a product will be successful, and advertising and branding determine who successful it will be.
What about the introduction of Ayds? True, it wasn't changed to Ayds, but still, the advent of the AIDS virus caused the sales to plummet....Perhaps it's just an urban legend but I'm still gonna quote it.
http://www.internettrafficreport.com/asia.htm is another place to check internet traffic - it's a different metric, but it's still useful. Taiwan and India seem to be the only places doing okay.
Although I am too lazy to look up any hard evidence (and when is it necessary on slashdot?), I've heard that Postgre-SQL is much better at heavy loads then MySQL.
It's necessary when saying that ANYTHING is better than an open-source project - even if the other thing is Sliced Bread or Oxygen.
Slashdot Mirror
...I don't mind the "AssAsian" spam.
Two Hundred Billion Dollars were set aside for exactly this purpose. To charge people TWICE is just a way of getting more money.
Come on. Where did the money go?!
Some bills have had language that sort this out very well (see the Markey amendment that was shot down on Thursday night), while some haven't really covered it. Others still have completely taken the wrong stance, and completely misinterpreted the point of Net Neutrality, in an effort to shun out any talk of it. (see Gonzalez's amendment - a poison pill that shows a clear misunderstanding of the issues.)
There has been some talk about wording, but it all gets dicey. Right now, the COPE bill gives the FCC the necessary mouth to adjudicate hearings about Neutrality violations, but it doesn't give the FCC any teeth to enforce punishment!
It's ridiculous. But there has been some talk.
Yeah, it's a small distinction, but a powerful one.
The whole point of Net Neutrality is not to make everything neutral, as the telcos want you to believe....the point is to have fairness. So if you're using Vonage VoIP, or using Skype VoIP, or ANY other VoIP, it's okay to prioritize those packets so long as you prioritize everyone's VoIP traffic exactly the same.
That's where the telcos want to confuse people. And they're doing a great job with this confusion *grumble, grumble*.
Actually, this is the way it's been for years. The FCC recently (last year, I believe) turned over regulations that were keeping this sort of thing from happening. We're not endorsing new regulations, we're just asking to go back to the previous ones - they were there for a REASON.
Google, et. al. already DO pay. They pay to access the Internet. What could happen is that they will have to pay more, based on the fact that many users use their service (which is already covered plenty by the internet access they pay for), or will have to pay protection/racketeering money to the ISPs to keep their competitors from outpaying them and, in effect, out-accessing them. BellSouth,among many many others, wants to be able to differentially prioritize customers based on how much extra money they pay them - giving the people with $ a huge advantage and the people without, well...they're SOL since their packets will be pushed to the back of the line.
In short, nothing like UPS at all. You aren't prevented from getting your package to your customers if you decide to use USPS instead.
Two Hundred Billion Dollars were set aside for this purpose EXACTLY . To charge people TWICE is just a ridiculous way of getting more money.
--------------------
This users' post is hard evidence that the telcos and cable companies have been working a vigorous disinformation campaign. No-one knows exactly what the whole issue is about, and many of the shills hired by those companies promote the idea that EMTs won't be able to get patient information over the Internet if "neutrality" is passed. This completely glosses over the ACTUAL definition of Net Neutrality, and defines it in a very dumbed-down way that unites the masses against the issue. It makes me physically ill...
Public Knowledge is working for you, the consumer. Head over there, get informed, and let's do something about this!
Where does it say the program roots your box? I can't seem to find this...or is it assumed?
it's John S Hopkins
This isn't that hard!
Goddamnit!
That's partly because crowded dorms and cafeterias are breeding grounds for germs that are spread by sneezing and coughing.
....Sure, sneezing and coughing. That's that thing that helps us whippersnappers spread germs in college... ;-)
Why would they? This is the joke to end all jokes about delays. No need to call in lesser jokes.
Arbitrary thoughts and unfounded speculation is how we roll :-)
Now, it's been a couple of years since I've taken French, but I try to keep up...
They called the court the "cour de cassation"...Doesn't "casser" mean "to break"? What the hell?
Any insight will be really helpful....or funny.
I'd be sick of statistics too, if all of mine ended up adding to 100.04%... =P
But seriously, yeah, statistics don't mean much.
Same problem with VHS tapes, CDs, audio tapes, books, books on tape....what are you going for? A worldwide ban on library materials? DRM in the library? Or, just a first post on slashdot?
What is your point?
Well, what it does is this - it removes the fog of war completely. That sounds good, but keep in mind that EVERYONE loses it, so now those #*^&%! Zulus can see all of your units, and Diploblitz you at the proper time...
It's made obsolete with the advancement of Electricity, though. Years after the sun is created, it's discovered that it's not serving enough of a purpose.
Finally, it seems, there is a corporation willing to stand up to all of the bullshit that is so prevalent in today's business-Internet melange. It always seems techies are on one side, and business people are on another.
There is a company whose business people are with the nerds.
Google, we salute you!
It might seem crazy now, but it is hard to think of companies that really suffered (to the extent of exiting the industry) when they changed their brand names. Quality determines whether a product will be successful, and advertising and branding determine who successful it will be.
...Perhaps it's just an urban legend but I'm still gonna quote it.
What about the introduction of Ayds? True, it wasn't changed to Ayds, but still, the advent of the AIDS virus caused the sales to plummet.
Holy shit (if this is true).
Why the hell would anyone want to track that crappy movie?
I'd hope it's staying very still at the bottom of landfills.
Ostensibly the government thought of that, since terrorists use linux.
Is Chris Sontag heading this project up, he might have a few good pointers...
....or is it related?
http://www.internettrafficreport.com/asia.htm is another place to check internet traffic - it's a different metric, but it's still useful. Taiwan and India seem to be the only places doing okay.
yeah
This is definitely caused by this:
a tion/news/bulletins/extendedsupport.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/evalu
Many workplaces were practically forced to upgrade to XP, since 2000 would no longer be supported. And it seems they held on until the very end.
Forced upgrades => more users of XP => more users of IE 6 => browser statistics go up.
The whole list of emails made me so angry....then at the bottom of the rebuttal:
Mr. Prendergast's affiliation with Microsoft should have been stated clearly in the article.
GODDAMN FOX NEWS! WHY DO PEOPLE LISTEN TO THIS DRIVEL!
fair and balanced, my quarter-arab ass.
Although I am too lazy to look up any hard evidence (and when is it necessary on slashdot?), I've heard that Postgre-SQL is much better at heavy loads then MySQL.
It's necessary when saying that ANYTHING is better than an open-source project - even if the other thing is Sliced Bread or Oxygen.
Sorry, but how does this matter? Affecting end users will affect the people that run the systems, which will affect how the systems are run...