Verizon's Plan to Break the Internet

SaveTheInternet ^ | 9/18/13 | Timothy Karr

[bert]

———lawyer Helgi Walker———

A Breastister

[shego]

There is only a set amount of bandwidth that is available. Is Verizon supposed to finance capacity expansion so that Netflix can stream unlimited amounts of programming to every Verizon subscriber?
They amount of bandwidth consumed will be rationed one way or another. The question is how it will be rationed. I prefer charging those who use it the most the highest rates. So we will have pay by usage or we will have usage limits.

I have quoted your message in a manner that subtly reveals the answer to where Verizon is supposed to obtain its funding.

They sell bandwidth. People buy bandwidth (and pay more if they buy more, obviously). It's not their business to regulate what people do with that bandwidth once they have sold it (barring the obvious exception of attempting to sabotage the network).

[tomkat]

+1

.. and boyhowdy, did THAT ever feel GOOD !

[shego]

Why should you be allowed to have a continuos stream of HD videos, music, and games that hog bandwidth and be charged the same as someone who sends email and occasionally surfs the web?

Someone who only sends email occasionally ought to buy the low-bandwidth option and save some money. If they choose to buy the high-bandwidth option and not use it to its capacity, well, it's they money to give away.

Certainly, Verizon is not entitled to sell X bytes-per-minute of bandwidth and then decide that you only get x/10 if you surf to a site that hasn't cut a special deal with them... or x/infinity if you surf to a site on their blacklist (e.g. a site that keeps harping on all that inconvenient "Constitution" stuff like this one).

[Moonman62]

Verizon is currently the poster child of corporate fascism. They are apparently in bed with every legislative body in the US from congress to your local city council member.

Considering the business they are in, they don't have a choice. Almost all big businesses are in bed with Big Government. That's why Palin says she's pro market, not pro-business.

[21twelve]

“...with a potential customer’s...”

I have a contract with Verizon, and they are changing the terms of the contract. If not for the contract, and I didn’t like how they were doing things, I wouldn’t use them. I guess that is why folks are looking at that as a way to get out of Verizon if they choose.

With the bakery, the guy coming in off the street does not have a contract with them. As a private business, they should be able to decide who they want to do business with, and what products they will sell. I go into a Vegan store and demand that they give me a steak is dumb. As dumb as getting all mad if I go into a bakery and they won’t give me a homo cake because they don’t sell them.

[shego]

I have a contract with Verizon, and they are changing the terms of the contract. If not for the contract, and I didn’t like how they were doing things, I wouldn’t use them. I guess that is why folks are looking at that as a way to get out of Verizon if they choose.
With the bakery, the guy coming in off the street does not have a contract with them. As a private business, they should be able to decide who they want to do business with, and what products they will sell. I go into a Vegan store and demand that they give me a steak is dumb. As dumb as getting all mad if I go into a bakery and they won’t give me a homo cake because they don’t sell them.

Another complication is that the government (mostly on the state and local levels, but federal regulations reinforce it) prevents real free-market competition in broadband -- typically, there are two options at best (local phone company and local cable company), which is nowhere near enough to prevent collusion and abuse.

[KrisKrinkle]

So your ok with Verizon doing this and establishing a precedent for others to follow? (Please take that as a straight up request for information.)

[TheRhinelander]

When we switched to cable phone they wouldn’t released our old number (illegal). After a bad ice storm the phone wire to the house was hanging, I called, they came out and cut it (also probably illegal).

[Grampa Dave]

“Considering the business they are in, they don’t have a choice. Almost all big businesses are in bed with Big Government. That’s why Palin says she’s pro market, not pro-business.”

Unfortunately, you are correct.

My big eye opener re big business in bed with big government came with the pictures of the CEO/Whores flocking to be photoed with Clintoon and the ChiComs.

Since then it has gotten worse. With more and more CEO’s in bed with the rats. ObamaCare may be waking up some of these knee padders.

[Moonman62]

Businesses are more than happy to get out of healthcare. They’ll do layoffs, go with part timers, and dump everyone else on the exchanges — business as usual. It’s the employees who will suffer. Corporate officers, politicians, and their staffers will still get platinum plated care.

[BuckeyeTexan]

Yeah, Internet access has become a convenience utility like water, electricy, gas, and sewer. If you use more, you’ll pay more. It’s not that way yet, but it will be.

[FreedomNotSafety]

You are right. Verizon reminds me of an “All-You-Can-Eat” buffet that reserves the right to kick you out if you eat too much.

[Baseballguy]

Its done. Verizon wins and we all have a different Internet.

[Baseballguy]

Nancy Pelosi is for Net Nuetrality