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Net Neutrality

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 1:54 pm
by Talvieno
I figured this would be an interesting topic to bring up.

So, to start with, I'll try to explain net neutrality (as I understand it). Net neutrality is the system put in place by various laws where the Internet is free for everyone (beyond initial access charges), and ISPs must remain neutral to which sites we access. We can access which sites we want, however much we want - they aren't allowed to make some sites any slower than others, or deny access. (Although, certain providers such as Comcast and others do illegally tweak how fast our download speeds are for sites like Netflix, but that's not the issue in question at the moment.)

Mid-December, the US congress is voting to kill net neutrality, thanks to the FCC's Ajit Pai. As I understand it, if this happens, ISPs will have full control over what you view online. They'll be able to charge more or less for different things, block them entirely, make Americans have to pay extra to access sites like Netflix/Youtube/etc, or simply give them slower internet on (only) those sites unless you purchase an "upgraded Internet plan". They'll also be able to charge companies extra in order to have high-speed internet, or limit how much data a company or site can upload a month (again, unless they pay more money). In doing this, they'll be able to completely shut down sites and companies they don't like. I imagine most cable companies will shut down things like Netflix and Hulu fairly quickly, as they are major competitors.

Ajit Pai is, despite being Chairman of the FCC, in the pocket of most large cable companies, including Comcast, AT&T, Time Warner, and (especially) Verizon. This is not a change that's intended to have a positive effect on the citizens of the US, or the world at large. It's just there to make money - and the scary thing is, the majority of congressmen seem to be on board with it (as well as forcing states to comply with the federal laws and not come up with their own regarding net neutrality). The internet as we know it will come to an end, and will essentially be replaced with "Cable for Computers". The FCC is completely ignoring any and all complaints or comments from consumers.

Disclaimer: I'm just repeating what I've read in various articles, so what I've listed above may not be 100% accurate. I'm curious to see what people think of it, if they know more about it than I do.

Re: Net Neutrality

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:05 pm
by Dinosawer
Talvieno wrote:
Wed Nov 22, 2017 1:54 pm
The internet as we know it will come to an end*, and will essentially be replaced with "Cable for Computers".
*in America

Look people, this is what happens if you make it legal for politicians to receive money from companies...

Also,
https://www.battleforthenet.com/
^if you actually want to do anything against it. No guarantee it'll help but not doing anything definitely won't.

Re: Net Neutrality

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:17 pm
by Cornflakes_91
Dinosawer wrote:
Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:05 pm
Talvieno wrote:
Wed Nov 22, 2017 1:54 pm
The internet as we know it will come to an end*, and will essentially be replaced with "Cable for Computers".
*in America
its still going to affect everyone because a lot of stuff is based in the US.

Re: Net Neutrality

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:20 pm
by Dinosawer
Initially, yes, but eventually they're just gonna move infrastructure if that turns out to be more profitable, cause that's how businesses work

Re: Net Neutrality

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:20 pm
by Silverware
Cornflakes_91 wrote:
Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:17 pm
Dinosawer wrote:
Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:05 pm
Talvieno wrote:
Wed Nov 22, 2017 1:54 pm
The internet as we know it will come to an end*, and will essentially be replaced with "Cable for Computers".
*in America
its still going to affect everyone because a lot of stuff is based in the US.
Except it will be beneficial for most of us. :V
The big company pipes will get fatter, and the smaller companies will move their systems offshore.
Only the americans will be utterly fucked by this. :V

Re: Net Neutrality

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:22 pm
by Triggerhappy
To those who need more information ( or memes ) on this, visit the front page of Imgur.

Re: Net Neutrality

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:24 pm
by Talvieno
I'm pretty sure that when many sites start losing their customers because of the changes, and subsequently have to put up new ads or invent new paid account plans to pay the bills (assuming they don't close down entirely, which I'm sure many will (particularly things ISPs don't want Americans to access, like Netflix)), people outside the US will start seeing a significant change as well. The US contributes a significant portion of people online. If you cut enough of those out of the equation I imagine there will be very, very few sites (that rely on Americans to pay their bills) that don't have to make changes to account for it.

Re: Net Neutrality

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:26 pm
by Triggerhappy
I don't see how this could go through without the government and/or many minor companies getting toppled in a wave of rage and anger. This either does not go through, or there will be revolution levels of rebellion against the system in place.

Re: Net Neutrality

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:29 pm
by Talvieno
I strongly doubt they'll do it all at once. They'll probably try to sneak it in a little at a time. They'll probably wait a few months after the vote goes through (if the vote succeeds) to start implementing anything, to give people time to cool down. It's what makes sense.

Re: Net Neutrality

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:29 pm
by Dinosawer
Talvieno wrote:
Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:24 pm
I'm pretty sure that when many sites start losing their customers because of the changes, and subsequently have to put up new ads or invent new paid account plans to pay the bills (assuming they don't close down entirely, which I'm sure many will (particularly things ISPs don't want Americans to access, like Netflix)), people outside the US will start seeing a significant change as well. The US contributes a significant portion of people online. If you cut enough of those out of the equation I imagine there will be very, very few international sites that don't have to make changes to account for it.
If they take out costs of their American customers on the EU customers, then we will switch to use something that doesn't. It's a free market and the EU has more than twice the inhabitants the US has.

Re: Net Neutrality

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:33 pm
by Cornflakes_91
Silverware wrote:
Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:20 pm
Except it will be beneficial for most of us. :V
The big company pipes will get fatter, and the smaller companies will move their systems offshore.
Only the americans will be utterly fucked by this. :V
so the fat get fatter and the small ones will be utterly fucked :V
which is soooooooo beneficial for everyone :V
[/sarcasm]

i like new stuff to be able to emerge from everywhere, i dont care from where on the webs it comes.

Re: Net Neutrality

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:34 pm
by Triggerhappy
The after-blast of the initial vote should be enough to cause turmoil. Most likely people will start trying to lay their own networks to the best of their ability, and/or boycott in ways we can probably hardly imagine.

This is hardcore oligarchy levels of control happening, with few wanting more money, and most wanting to keep their porn free. If nothing else, Americans seem to love their freedom to extremely unreasonable levels, which in this case should do them good, if only by enraging them as long as this goes on. That is, unless the social analytics manage to figure out how to calm them through controlled content after the vote goes through. Though that seems quite extreme, if entirely possible.

Re: Net Neutrality

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:39 pm
by Cornflakes_91
Triggerhappy wrote:
Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:34 pm
Americans seem to love their freedom to extremely unreasonable levels
the irony in this point is very strong. because theres way too many people who are perfectly fine with their freedom to be fucked as long as it means less gov ruling....

Re: Net Neutrality

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:41 pm
by Triggerhappy
Less gov ruling and more corporate ruling? Am I getting that correctly?

Is that really a thing?

Re: Net Neutrality

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:43 pm
by Cornflakes_91
Triggerhappy wrote:
Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:41 pm
Less gov ruling and more corporate ruling? Am I getting that correctly?

Is that really a thing?
yes. i recently talked to one who explicitly preferred corporate dictature over a gov in which he has at least some say