[ale] [OT] Google and Verizon Near Deal on Web Pay Tiers

[Brian Pitts]

On 08/08/2010 11:48 AM, Pete Hardie wrote:
> On Sun, Aug 8, 2010 at 10:56, Tim Watts <tim at cliftonfarm.org> wrote:
>>
>> http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/technology/05secret.html?_r=1
> 
> Both have denied any such pricing deal, but Cringley has this:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/opinion/08cringeley.html
> which might be construed as a sweetheart deal

>From that editorial:

> Net neutrality is the concept that all data packets are created equal and Internet service providers should not give priority to one kind of data (say, video conferencing) over another (say, e-mail). 

Cringley has a pretty limited definition of "network neutrality".
Derailing the thread slightly, for the benefit of anyone who hasn't seen
what the FCC is trying to accomplish. They have proposed 6 rules:

* Consumers are entitled to access the lawful Internet content of their
choice
* Consumers are entitled to run applications and use services of their
choice, subject to the needs of law enforcement
* Consumers are entitled to connect their choice of legal devices that
do not harm the network
* Consumers are entitled to competition among network providers,
application and service providers, and content providers.
* A provider of broadband Internet access service must treat lawful
content, applications, and services in a nondiscriminatory manner
* A provider of broadband Internet access service must disclose such
information concerning network management and other practices as is
reasonably required for users and content, application, and service
providers to enjoy the protections specified in this rulemaking

All of these principles are subject to "reasonable network management",
which is defined as

* To manage congestion on networks
* To address harmful traffic (viruses, spam)
* To block unlawful content (child porn)
* To block unlawful transfers of content (copyright infringement)
* For "other reasonable network management practices"

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/10/fcc-proposes-network-neutrality-rules-and-big-exemptions.ars

-- 
All the best,
Brian Pitts