Comments on: Is There Another, Grassroots Way to Network Neutrality? http://www.mediageek.net/2006/03/is-there-another-grassroots-way-to-network-neutrality/ "Eclectic" is just a nice way of saying, "lacking focus" Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:13:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: What’s New Media? » Is There Another, Grassroots Way to Network Neutrality? http://www.mediageek.net/2006/03/is-there-another-grassroots-way-to-network-neutrality/comment-page-1/#comment-8775 What’s New Media? » Is There Another, Grassroots Way to Network Neutrality? Sun, 21 May 2006 21:18:59 +0000 http://www.mediageek.net/?p=1361#comment-8775 [...] Read the complete entry    [...] [...] Read the complete entry    [...]

]]> By: alevin http://www.mediageek.net/2006/03/is-there-another-grassroots-way-to-network-neutrality/comment-page-1/#comment-8258 alevin Tue, 28 Mar 2006 05:06:24 +0000 http://www.mediageek.net/?p=1361#comment-8258 The municipal fiber model is sweeping Europe, in cities including Amsterdam and Paris. Perhaps the combination of the muniwireless model, plus examples of regional fiber in places including Oregon and Utah, can spark a similar trend in the US. Areas where municipalities provide "wholesale" fiber, and ISPs compete to provide service, have broadband services that are faster and cheaper than the duopoly. The municipal fiber model is sweeping Europe, in cities including Amsterdam and Paris. Perhaps the combination of the muniwireless model, plus examples of regional fiber in places including Oregon and Utah, can spark a similar trend in the US. Areas where municipalities provide “wholesale” fiber, and ISPs compete to provide service, have broadband services that are faster and cheaper than the duopoly.

]]> By: mediageek » Universities as Providers of Neutral Networks? http://www.mediageek.net/2006/03/is-there-another-grassroots-way-to-network-neutrality/comment-page-1/#comment-8251 mediageek » Universities as Providers of Neutral Networks? Tue, 14 Mar 2006 04:50:18 +0000 http://www.mediageek.net/?p=1361#comment-8251 [...] Andrew at funferal takes up my question about a grassroots effort for network neutrality via constructing neutral networks, and brings up a good point about Universities: Incidentally, if we’re looking for a useful partner for the grassroots, why not look to the Universities. They probably have as much capacity as Google, if not more, with nodes in more places. [...] [...] Andrew at funferal takes up my question about a grassroots effort for network neutrality via constructing neutral networks, and brings up a good point about Universities: Incidentally, if we’re looking for a useful partner for the grassroots, why not look to the Universities. They probably have as much capacity as Google, if not more, with nodes in more places. [...]

]]> By: George http://www.mediageek.net/2006/03/is-there-another-grassroots-way-to-network-neutrality/comment-page-1/#comment-8249 George Wed, 08 Mar 2006 23:02:37 +0000 http://www.mediageek.net/?p=1361#comment-8249 "So how can we ensure a free, untiered and unfiltered internet in some similar proactive, grassroots way?" I don't think you can. Why? Because the Constitution doesn't guarantee it. I gave this analogy before, and it was shot down. But it's the truth. The 1st amendment allows you to say what you want. It doesn't guarantee anyone has to listen. It doesn't ensure we all have the same access to the same tools to say what we want. Some people must take to the streets. Others go on Fox News. Nothing equal there. We already have several tiers of internet access. We have dial-up, which is basic. We have a few levels of broadband. And then there is the super tier, used by large corporations. I expect there will be at least one more even faster system at some point. We pay different fees for these services, and we get different packages for the money. If you study civil rights law over the past half century, you'll see that there are very few times when the courts have said everyone deserves the absolute best, most expensive system. They usually set minimum standards in terms of health care, education, and housing. That's what the law allows. But I don't see a legal precident to the idea that everyone deserves the same access to the fastest internet service. Especially when we have so many people currently living in sub-standard housing, on sub-standard income, with sub-standard health care. It opens a door that our government is not prepared to open. Which is eliminating the benefits enjoyed to those who are willing to pay extra. It also ensures that if the higher tier isn't permitted, we will all pay more for what we get. Either way, the price is going up. “So how can we ensure a free, untiered and unfiltered internet in some similar proactive, grassroots way?”

I don’t think you can. Why? Because the Constitution doesn’t guarantee it.

I gave this analogy before, and it was shot down. But it’s the truth. The 1st amendment allows you to say what you want. It doesn’t guarantee anyone has to listen. It doesn’t ensure we all have the same access to the same tools to say what we want. Some people must take to the streets. Others go on Fox News. Nothing equal there.

We already have several tiers of internet access. We have dial-up, which is basic. We have a few levels of broadband. And then there is the super tier, used by large corporations. I expect there will be at least one more even faster system at some point. We pay different fees for these services, and we get different packages for the money.

If you study civil rights law over the past half century, you’ll see that there are very few times when the courts have said everyone deserves the absolute best, most expensive system. They usually set minimum standards in terms of health care, education, and housing. That’s what the law allows. But I don’t see a legal precident to the idea that everyone deserves the same access to the fastest internet service. Especially when we have so many people currently living in sub-standard housing, on sub-standard income, with sub-standard health care. It opens a door that our government is not prepared to open. Which is eliminating the benefits enjoyed to those who are willing to pay extra. It also ensures that if the higher tier isn’t permitted, we will all pay more for what we get. Either way, the price is going up.

]]>