IT Trends :: Thursday, May 4, 2006
Opinion
Net Neutrality: Bedrock Principle or Intrusive ‘Performance’ Barrier?
By Terry Calhoun
We’re hearing more about “Net Neutrality.” Mostly, that’s because large broadband access providers are, in general, talking aloud about creating premium Internet services that would violate “network neutrality.” Although some countries have legislated network neutrality, the United States has not. So legally they can get away with it. I hope they don’t.
What is the opposite of network neutrality? Perhaps it is the existence of “discriminatory networks” (discnet). Why would some companies want to create discriminatory networks? Perhaps it’s for more profits and fear of changing competitive pressures as Web 2.0 evolves in the near- to mid-future?
What d'es a discriminatory network look like? What we’re talking about here is “concierge service” or “first class.” You know, like where about 20 people get to share an entire airplane bathroom for themselves while everyone else lines up at the back of the plane, bumping against other people, waiting for their turn.
But in this case, the “first class” is for bulk e-mail advertisers who can afford to pay extra to get their messages into your bathroom (I mean inbox.) ahead of or instead of everyone else’s...
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