Save the Internet!

[Jarre]

Re: Save the Internet!

Correct me if I am wrong but, I consider the Internet a "postmodern" concept, hence it will be VERY difficult to "control" it. Given the amount of information, and knowledge around it, there is nothing that could possibly stop. If certain locks or mods are appliekd there will always be the underworld, or other things... there is nothing stopping this....

Any comments.??

I agree how are they goign to control over one hundred thousand billion pages of data?

[Moaku Hyena]

Re: Save the Internet!

It's amazing. If this law gets passed, I can not only smell abuse from internet companies (being directed to IGE when trying to go here is hell...), but this may also be abused by political cronies. Let's say a site has valuable info that some politician dislikes. He can collaborate with a company to have that site recieve little to no bandwith, making it unuseable. China does a similiar thing, but goes as far as to crash your net connection for five minutes if you type in or go to politically sensitive sites.

Another abuse of this can be to simply weed out the competition by making the sites seem to not to exist. MSN wants to get rid of Google being a competitor? They host internet, why not block Google and give people a 404, or even worse, bring them to MSN.com when going to Google? This has happened before, but with browsers: Microsoft actually blocked every other portal (browser) from being used in conjunction with their service, or simply, made it so that you can't use Firefox or Opera to surf the Web with MSN. Internet Explorer ONLY? [No Thanks].

I -SHUDDER- to think what would happen to Netzero/ Juno/ Bluelight's customers when that provision is passed. Let me rant about NetZero, nay, United Online for a moment. NetZero is the WORST ISP you can ever have. They have this Java-based ad bar that takes up roughly 20% of your screen, and it's slow as hell. They actually CHARGE for VoIP and Tech support (They charge $1.49 a minute--no joke). You have two options of cancelling your account: calling in and using the net form. Using the net form, you will get a charge of $25. You can call in, but you'll have to take the $1.49/minute charge, and if you're on hold a lot....you're screwed. And you can bet your ass that they sell your personal info to companies. When sighing up, you have to give out a LOT of info, like "What cars do you prefer"? and stuff. Plus, I have had Gator/ Claria installed on my machine unknowingly through "Drive-by ads". They also sneak in extra chargesm making the $9.99/month with "unlimited net browsing" ad false--if you use the internet with them too much, they tell you that in order for you to continue using their net service, they charge as high as $39.99 for their lame dial-up. HA! My DSL is cheaper than that.

Now, what if that provision is passed and United Online takes advantage of it?
$9.99 for 12kbps speeds limited net, $29.99 for 24kbps speeds, $49.99 for 56kbps internet, and the ability to visit every site fully. Then we'll see people who use the net too much accrue charges up to $79.99/month. Worse, they want to charge for Voip and, if they choose, will charge "long distance" based on IP.

Now, Netzero also offers a free service, and I don't even like their free service. So everytime my net is down, I temporarily use my free NetZero account, and is always driven to look for alternate free service. But what if they BLOCKED sites that lead to free net services that aren't as decrepit as NetZero? Then you're royally f**ked. Hell, what if they blocked their competitors' sites too? Then you're anally f**ked. If you don't have much knowledge on net services, as I have encountered people who haven't, then you're stuck with the price-gouging SOBs. Score one for the corporate team with the tuxedos and big cigars.

There's a lot of potential abuse to this provision here. Giving internet companies control over what sites you go to is just asking for Fascism.

[Macht]

Re: Save the Internet!

I agree how are they goign to control over one hundred thousand billion pages of data?

Don't know how network operate I see. It's pretty easy actually because even though it's a billion pages of data the sources are far fewer. It's only a matter of getting that companies assigned network IP range and setting it in the routers to have a higher Cost (Yes in the company routers there is a network load balancing option called "Cost").

For the router an IP range grouped under a higher cost you can then have route to were you like. Control of such isn't that hard to do in the router to say everyone assigned to 86.136.0.0 - 86.141.255.255 (Happend to be BT Public Internet Service) will end up as just a few lines on the router telling it to set them at a higher cost.

Then anyone who comes from that source has now been Tiered to route them away or even can set to completly restrict. It isn't a matter of simple data it just a matter of companies and their assigned IP Range on the network. That is actually far more easier to handle then you'd think.

To put it more blantant most modern networks are already built with a hierarchial structure. It's done to improve speed intentionally by only allow those who need the backbone to be able to access the backbone. As much as this improves speed it has the same potential to do the opposite and hinder it. It all depends on how the routers and backbone itself are configured, it doesn't take that long to do either 5 min. tops by a skilled network professional.