Net Neutrality... again!

Ok, this is getting ridiculous people.  I blogged about Net Neutrality before because it was hype and fad and I thought I'd be too late to do it later as the new FCC attempt would be quickly quashed.

Well, I was wrong.

Let's recap quickly about what this really is.  Net Neutrality really is the concept that all data is to be treated equally.  Think the "Immortal Declaration" for digital information.   And no, I'm not talking about highlander, it's the Declaration of Independence, and we can debate if there can be only one later.

No, this is too important to cover in jokes though.  Basically this new stance would allow Comcast to have two speeds of data brought to your home, one which they're calling "Regular" and one that's called "Fast Lane" which companies like Netflix or Amazon could pay a premium to be using.

Come on, do you really, actually think that you're not going to get shafted in this?  That site you read, the one about video games that some guy publishes a really awesome review every week?  Forget it, you'll be waiting for a week to load the page.  Or that awesome recipe site you love cooking from.  Or any other of a plethora of locations that can't even pretend to be able to afford what Comcast thinks is "premium" fees.

The cable company is trying to say that they won't slow down data, they'll just speed up other data.  Really, people, just think about that.  That's like saying that before 1776, black people weren't slaves, it's just that white people were free.  And no, before you're getting all huffy and thinking I'm comparing internet speeds to slavery, I'm just trying to show that you can't talk about the good side and pretend there isn't a bad one.

This means that startup companies will never be able to compete with others, no matter how good they are, because their top-notch services will be downgraded to molasses in january by Comcast.  They could have speeds a fucking googolplex times faster than anyone else but they'll reach you as fast as a one-winged carrier pidgeon because they won't pay "Big Cable's" protection fees.

Yes, that's what this is.  This is Guido telling you that it'd be a real shame if something happened to your internet speeds... wouldn't want those customers to think your service was slow or something.  No no, I'm not threatening you, but things happen, and it's better to be safe, right?

Come on!

So now I'm not ranting, I'm pleading.  Go to www.fcc.gov/comments.  Really, go there, they're accepting public comments on the idea of Net Neutrality.  Don't let this happen, don't think "everyone else will write so I won't."  It's not a letter, you don't even need to mail it.  Take 15 minutes, write down your thoughts, and don't let the FCC turn their back on this just because the head of the FCC is a former lobbyist.  I'm not one to quote often, but I think this says it best:

"The President has appointed a lobbyist to regulate lobbyists who lobbied on behalf of the corporations that he lobbied on behalf of."  - Former FCC Commissioner Nicholas Jonhnson

Is that really the best person to make these choices?  Don't just assume the right answer will happen, I did, and now it's getting worse not better.  Go to www.fcc.gov/comments!  Make your comments, tell them what you think about Net Neutrality, tell them you can't just ignore it, it's one of the main founding concepts of the internet.  Tell them that every idiot has the same right to have their drivel shared at the same speed as anyone else's!

Go!  Now!  I'm done!  get out of here and do it!

See you next time!