Internet deregulation

It's not good. They use the word "deregulate," but it's really privatization. They're going to seize the market and give privileges to those who are willing to pay the most, just like the water and cable companies give the best services to the people willing to pay the most money. Same goes for the phone companies.

The reason this is happening is because the internet is particularly explosive right now, more so than ever. In ten years, there may not be any televisions in homes anymore; everything's being done on the internet. The companies see the opportunity to make a buck and they're jumping at it now. They want to be able to control who sees what, what is on the net, how fast you can see it, etc.

In the long run, this is not going to be good. Without regulation, they're going to censor people like crazy. And since politicians and corporations are good buddies, they will no doubt infringe on many of the rights that we have now, such as the freedom of speech. If you've got a liberal website, watch your ass.

I think this also gives the RIAA and MPAA a chance to actually crack down on downloaders. They can ally with corporations, and since corporations will be tightly controlling the data canals they provide, they could choose to get downlonaders.

Not to mention that it's going to push smaller business websites out of business, simply because they won't be able to compete with the big boys.

Hopefully none of this happens.

How ya doing, buddy?

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got no problem with equal services to all - if it's government-funded and operated. But if a corporation is the principal provider, why shouldn't those who pay a premium price receive preferential treatment? That's my only point.

As it stands, yes, you could argue that this is essentially what is happening on the internet already. But, like you said, it works best when the government is the middle man. To take away something that people have been given at no extra charge and make them pay for it is wrong.

If you subtract the government from the internet equation, the prices are going to be a lot higher. Despite internet rates being at an all-time low, they're only bound to go up when corporations set up "tollbooths" for online streaming and downloading content. Companies are going to strip us of the privilege to download, stream, and visit certain sites and demand that we pay them more money in order to do it. Families across the First and Second World are just now starting to afford the internet because prices have dropped so low. There's no excuse for the telecommunications companies to raise the price of DSL or Broadband.

Imagine if, one day out of the blue, HBO made you pay a separate fee to watch the "Sopranos" or "Dead like Me." You still have to pay for HBO to begin with, but if you want the "Premium" content, you have to pay a little more. It's the same thing, and it's scandalous.

There's nowhere I can't reach.