Neutrality amendment bill
p2p news / p2pnet: The cartels will be disappointed.
America’s House Energy and Commerce Committee has tossed out the neutrality amendment bill that also, "enjoyed support from Internet and software companies including Microsoft, Amazon.com and Google," says CNET News, going on:
"While efforts to rewrite telecommunications laws often languish in obscurity, advocacy groups and corporations have raised public alarms about the section of the 34-page bill pertaining to Net neutrality A "Save the Internet" coalition has even been created and boasts members such as the left-leaning Moveon.org, the American Library Association and the libertarian-conservative group Gun Owners of America.
SavetheInternet.com lists four examples of what’s already happening.
In 2004, North Carolina ISP Madison River blocked their DSL customers from using any rival Web-based phone service.
In 2005, Canada’s telephone giant Telus blocked customers from visiting a Web site sympathetic to the Telecommunications Workers Union during a labor dispute.
Shaw, a big Canadian cable TV company, is charging an extra $10 a month to subscribers who want to use a competing Internet telephone service.
In April, Time Warner’s AOL blocked all emails that mentioned www.dearaol.com — an advocacy campaign opposing the company’s pay-to-send e-mail scheme.
Politicians are trading favors for campaign donations from companies that want to abolish Net neutrality, says the group.
"They’re being wooed by people like AT&T’s CEO, who says ‘the Internet can’t be free’."
Also See:
CNET News – Democrats lose House vote on Net neutrality, April 26, 2006
Save the Internet – Gutting Net neutrality, April 25, 2006
April 27th, 2006 at 7:17 pm
Shaw, a big Canadian cable TV company, is charging an extra $10 a month to subscribers who want to use a competing Internet telephone service.
Comcast is doing the same thing, except charging $5 extra per month. If you get all 3 of their services you get $15 off the total price. If you get two, $10 off, and if you get one there’s no discount at all. It’s a good idea, but Comcast prices are SO high and they are seemingly becoming the one company out there unfortunately. I cannot stand their “digital” cable service at all.