Re:Net Neutrality: Toward a Stupid Internet
by r0s on Tuesday April 06, 2010 @11:17PM
(#1246360)
I can (and do) use Vonage, or scads of other IP-based carrier
You're missing the point, services like voip could end up priced arbitrarily in the interest of the carrier. What if non-AT&T voip services were priced out of the market? This is not beneficial to the consumer.
It's easy to claim wireless or some new technology will always provide innovation and options, now, when the market is new and less consolidated.
10 years from now, there's no reason to think a single company won't own cell networks as well as cable networks, or any other medium for that matter.
The status quo sucks!
I don't know about your area, but around here ISPs rarely, if ever invest in infrastructure, and upgrades are unheard of. My parents in a rural area have been waiting for years for any land based broadband options, 3g doesn't even work there!
You're missing the point, services like voip could end up priced arbitrarily in the interest of the carrier. What if non-AT&T voip services were priced out of the market? This is not beneficial to the consumer. It's easy to claim wireless or some new technology will always provide innovation and options, now, when the market is new and less consolidated. 10 years from now, there's no reason to think a single company won't own cell networks as well as cable networks, or any other medium for that matter. The status quo sucks! I don't know about your area, but around here ISPs rarely, if ever invest in infrastructure, and upgrades are unheard of. My parents in a rural area have been waiting for years for any land based broadband options, 3g doesn't even work there!