Comments for It's time to learn about network neutrality.

Comment from Andrew on 2007-12-22

2007-12-22T12:23:07Z

This is a big issue with both ISP's tampering with content and throttling of users and services. I did a librarian and Information Studies degree and these people are called gatekeepers of knowledge. Gatekeepers are sort of censors, some of the best gatekeepers are the CEO's secretary but here we are again being protected or manipulated by the gatekeepers who's adgenda we don't know. Scary stuff thinks I.

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A comment on: It's time to learn about network neutrality.

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Comment from Lou Gascon on 2007-12-21

2007-12-22T06:46:41Z

Hello Leo
neutrality mmm
I appear to be have a problem with this at the moment. Not with the ISP, but with Browsers I'm using and their search efforts...
In my quest to reduce resource using programs, I am trying to replace FFox & IE7 with something that might use less resources...!
Currently I am trying SlimBrowser by FlashPeak...
This comes preinstalled with a search program called MySearch, and offers one or two of their own suggestions at every search and on every search page, even though google is set as the default search engine - I am not best pleased...!
This browser is a trial replacement for Maxthon2 which I was loving until they went from 1.5 something to the current versions - suddenly, when I make a search (albeit throught the add-on patched Google search box that I installed), the search is forced via the address bar through Maxthons own search engine, and again places its own links for my perusal - this also now takes 3 to 4 times longer to bring the results home - grrrr
I have tried to stop or alter the way Maxthon does its searches, but to no avail.
Currently, I am wondering whether I can deselect or uninstall MySearch from SlimBrowser via the Toolbars Folder...?
and if I can, can I replace it with my usual Google search box which is fast and great and offers an extra button to search site only and places a clickable word search onto the banner of the menu which is a fantastic time saving utility...
FFox was using hundreds of Mb's to run, and I don't need to tell you about IE7...
Opera won't let me have it my way - although I understand they are the fastest...?
so who else is there...?
I'm currently toying with Amaya - shall I or sharn't I...? I dunno. I just wish some company would come up with a browser that done it all and showed all the pages in correct WC3 spec - I'd even pay to have that on my box...
ce la vie
Merry Xmas Leo
Lou

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A comment on: It's time to learn about network neutrality.

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2007-12-18

2007-12-18T19:37:44Z

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My take is that throttling (especially undocumented or hidden throttling) isn't
the answer. Usage-based fees are.

For example, your basic internet connection comes with some relatively high
bandwidth included per month. Something that 'normal' people would NEVER reach.
Once you exceed that bandwidth, you pay more. This makes it financially
infeasible for the majority of illegal file sharing while allowing ISPs to
recoup the cost of providing infrastructure for those willing to pay.

Leo

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A comment on: It's time to learn about network neutrality.

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Comment from Dave B on 2007-12-17

2007-12-17T14:23:35Z

This is one of those issues that becomes more and more complex as the onion is peeled away - often leaving me wondering if there isn't a single answer.

For example, the peer-to-peer issue. While the technology has no inherent intent for use, the majority of volume-users are only using it for activities that break copyright licensing. In addition, these users are soaking up a huge percentage of the available ISP bandwidth. Does the ISP have an obligation to its majority customers to protect their level of service? Does this include throttling the minority's use of tools such as peer-to-peer?

Some of the ISPs are now throttling all peer-to-peer traffic - some are throttling (or canceling) all users who are outliers on the high end of the usage spectrum.

If everyone used the spectrum in a similar fashion, this would be an easy question to answer. In the end, I could understand throttling the available bandwidth for those users who dramatically exceed common usage in order to provide high quality service to the majority, then hope (is this naive?) that competition (cable, FIOS, wireless) will drive advances in service.

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A comment on: It's time to learn about network neutrality.

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