The other absurd thing is people worried about Netflix, which as far back as I could remember is a big reason why this whole debate started in the first place. How about, if you want to watch TV, get TV. Leave the internet to information that doesn't have an alternative.
They were fine with Uber operating in an unregulated manner while dominating highly regulated competition. Soon I wont be able to hail a cab in Manhattan and we will all be crying about muh monopolies again.
All you needed to know about GOOG was the fact that it ever crossed their minds to make their motto "Don't be evil."
Hopefully there is opportunity to return to decentralization with the blockchain and projects like Substratum.
What's not clear is how much money Google, Facebook, Amazon and Netflix put into firing up the keep net neutrality campaign, but I'd assume there was quite a significant war chest available, judging by the size of the outcry. There were "viral" vids showing up on Reddit for example where the channel looked a lot like it was run by a think tank or similar.
Thanks for this valuable and insightful contribution.
Net neutrality didn't exist in 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015.
https://www.wired.com/2008/09/comcast-disclos-2/
"By a 3-2 vote, the FCC concluded that Comcast monitored the content of its customers' internet connections and selectively blocked peer-to-peer connections in violation of network neutrality rules. The selective blocking of file sharing traffic interfered with users' rights to access the internet and to use applications of their choice, the commission said."
Net neutrality has been the status quo since the start of the internet. First from the threat of regulation, then from Title I, then from Title II after Verizon's lawsuit.
It's been there far longer than you think, just in different forms. It's changed as the internet has.
I am blaming the tech giants for this ruling. They are the only ones with enough power to challenge this horrible ruling and they sat idle and watched it happen.
They may have given lip service to net neutrality, but their lack of enthusiasm and almost zero effort speaks volumes on their true opinions.
Microsoft crossed over to the dark side a long time ago.
Now, Google, Apple, Facebook join them in completely abandoning the ethos upon which the companies were founded.
I have been skeptical of their true intentions for years, and facebook has probably been corrupt since day one, but I thought if they were able to keep net neutrality, then I would think there was a chance for them.
No longer. They are gone. Truly sad day for the world.