Losing Net Neutrality: What The Worse Case Scenario Looks Like

As we've previously discussed, Senator John McCain hates him some "net neutrality." And so, he's introducing the "Internet Freedom Act of 2009," that would give telecoms the "freedom" to turn the "internet" into a confounding and baffling ordeal that would suck, into infinity. Net neutrality, which McCain, inventor of the Blackberry, wants to do away with, would keep internet service providers from favoring some content packets over others. To borrow an example elucidated by Boing Boing's Xeni Jardin, net neutrality is what prevents Time Warner, a provider, from slowing or blocking access to MSNBC in favor of CNN.

What would life be like under the "Internet Freedom Act?" Well, one Reddit user created an image that depicts the "worst case scenario."

John Biggs at crunchgear says, "this sort of bundling is a favorite pastime of most stream providers. For years voicemail was a privilege, not a right, and there are still grannies out there renting phones from the phone company. While month-to-month the costs might not seem like much, this sort of thing adds up to delicious profit." Over at Gizmodo, John Herman adds:

And before you dismiss the chart outright, check out your cable company's channel packages. Replace content provider fees with new network backbone charges, and cable packages with traffic or website packages, and hey, look, shit--this doesn't seem so crazy, does it?

[FULL IMAGE AVAILABLE HERE.]

RELATED:
This is what it sounds like when Net Neutrality dies [Crunchgear]
Losing Net Neutrality: The Worst Case Scenario [Gizmodo]

PREVIOUSLY, on the HUFFINGTON POST:
Rachel Maddow, Boing Boing Editor On McCain And Net Neutrality (VIDEO)
Jon Stewart Takes On "Net Neutrality" (VIDEO)

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Comments

[TidalShadow]

Of all the things the internet is used for, basic research would become impossible without net neutrality. Does anyone really think that a science based website would get any sort of preferential treatment? If this goes through, Wikipedia might become the only source for a lot of information, and that one only because it's a popular website.

[Factonfact]

Well, President Obama during his campaign for the Presidency promised net neutrality.

And we trust him now that he is President and can fulfill his promises.

Don't we?

[Poiks]

This is the first I've heard of this issue. Does anyone know what the points of the anti-neutrality argument are?

[fshrmn]

Lots of our money for corporations.

[Shwazy]

I think McCain is on to something here, but I don't think he goes far enough. Why stop at the internet?

Thus, I am proposing the Interstate Highway Freedom Act of 2009. (IHFA) I propose that burdensome traffic laws and so-called "free" interstate highways are stifling innovation and free competition in the transportation industry. Thus, my bill would allow that any corporation who wishes to do so could bid on and purchase interstate highways. No more onerous taxes! Let's just let the market decide how best to maintain and police our roads. Plus, valuable revenue could be generated through the selling off of our national infrastructure. Think of how much there is left to sell off!

Have you ever felt oppressed by our socialist government when driving on the highway? Do you feel your freedom to go 150mph is impinged? Well, this bill is an attempt to remedy this. IHFA would allow participating investors to control the flow of traffic on their roads any way they see fir, and would do away with the confusing numerical system we now use to denote highways. Doesn't it just sound more fun to take the Wal-Mart expressway rather than stodgy old route 78?

Doesn't it seem unfair that just anyone can transport whatever goods they want over whatever roads they want? Get big brother out of the passenger seat, and let the free market in!

Support highway freedom now. Support IHFA.

(Sponsored by the Partnership for Highway Freedom)

[Rmath]

Excellent analogy!

But it will probably go way over the heads of the folks who are drinking McCain's Kool-aid.

[sedan]

I fully support your proposed legislation.

In addition, here's an important message from the Public Service Administration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QDv4sYwjO0

[admiralj]

Sen. McCain, you don't even know how to use a computer. So how can you know whats is best for the internet and its users? Or is it that you got so much cash thrown at you by the big Telco's to write this "Freedom Act" you just knew that it sounded like it was "American".

Maybe you should learn about a subject before you try to steal away the rights of the people that you claim to represent.

[hulagirrrl]

That is his revenge to all these internet users that helped elect the other guy.

[jwredd]

Exactly, "I'll get you back you d@mn kids!"

[IDIOTA]

Calling it the Internet Freedom Act is particularly insulting and a typical GOP word game.

[AJH]

Silly it's the freedom to corporate profits. Honestly it exists because of cor[porations not the governement didn't you know, kind of like our energy grid etc... Of course they want to privatize it and profitize it and most importantly censure it.

[IDIOTA]

Gee, I am silly.

[truthmatterstoo]

We all know that anything McNutty does is a failure. He is the one that brought us the ho' of the future.

[Uggg]

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3458/show explains the bill, and most ISP's fall under FTC regulation and interstate commerce act we don.t need the FCC involved in the internet

[Rmath]

We absolutely do need the FCC to protect the internet. Read (if you know how):

http://www.savetheinternet.com/

[johnnynyc]

Apparently you don't read anything on this site before you post:

"To borrow an example elucidated by Boing Boing's Xeni Jardin, net neutrality is what prevents Time Warner, a provider, from slowing or blocking access to MSNBC in favor of CNN."

The simple fact of the matter is Time Warner hasn't owned Time Cable for awhile now and the result is:

"CNN was moved from the favorable Channel 10 position on Time Warner Cable in New York to the unfavorable position of Channel 78 and Fox's FX network was moved to Channel 10."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charles-warner/the-ny-times-and-bloomber_b_339045.html

How can anyone commenting on the media not know Time Warner doesn't own Time cable anymore and has no connection to CNN?

To quote an online "media critic" LOLOMGODZHAHAHA!!!

There's goes the last shred of your credibility.

[TheEmptinessOfTruthiness]

Wow you got him on a technicality, a minor point of fact that does not change the argument at all.

Calling this the last shred of credibility, you just shot down your own credibility, iff you had any to begin with that is.

[jwredd]

Hey Mr. Nitpicker, I write a check every month to "Time Warner Cable". If you're still LOLOMGODZing you can probably stop now.

[Fotios]

Ok, for a better example, Comcast is in the works to buy a majority stake of NBC from GE and they are a cable/internet provider. If they own MSNBC, NBC and all the other cable stations owned by NBC, they might be inclined to be more favorable to Microsoft and NBC websites without net neutrality.

PS - John McCain needs to shut the F up about things he doesn't understand. Megan McCain should know better than to let him do this.

[ForObamaInDallas]

She wants daddy to make more money so she'd have more to inherit.

[sleo1]

Holy Hoot Owl! I hope they defeat this monstrosity!

[Bloggerrogr]

So far, to me, the 'elephant in the room' is the question that hasn't been asked yet:

"Why hasn't this story been seen in the major networks, or even cable"? Why is it only on "The Daily Show"?

Think it over.

FWIW

[khg1]

Well put! Because some how, some way, the major networks - owned by their media conglomerates - will make an additional profit.

If we let this happen we all might as well start watching Fox!

And as the Chinese have so faithfully shown, the Thought Police are sure to follow!

[Torontogosh]

Glenn Beck did a segment on it 1-2 weeks ago. His argument against it was that if the US Government regulates the internet, then it will be subject to concepts of "fairness" and "localism" that threaten free and unregulated speech.

I have to admit, I kind of like the fact the internet can be a sewer. /b and the chans make me laugh.

[Uggg]

The Loon Beck had a small comment on it tonight

[ECBA88]

Rachel Maddow covered it?

[Bloggerrogr]

Of course Rachel had a segment; TRMS is way ahead of everyone else in that regard.
No, what I'm wondering about is why it hasn't been on NBC, CBS or ABC, the so-called 'Big Three', who, even though their numbers continue to trend downwards, still are the main source of information to a large segment of our population.
In other words, will passage of 'The Internet Freedom Act' be a fait accompli before the major networks put the story on the air?
That's what it looks like to me. Of course then it will be too late...

FWIW

[XLintLuvR]

Actually, I saw this same story on Maddow a while ago. It doesn't have any steam. Think about it, a Repub arguing for regulation? It'd go so nowhere fast because the rest of his party'll pull in a back room and give him a good talking to.

[Uggg]

The FCC needs to stay out of the internet it would lead to further regulation's the net needs to be open and free for all opinions

[Kynn]

Which is what the FCC is planning to ensure happens.

[Bloggerrogr]

I would hope that you are right, but my fear is based on many years of observation of the behavior of Corporate America. It smells $$$; it goes after it. We have only to witness the current debate over health care reform.

FWIW

[Fabini]

They cornered the internet
And stopped information flow
With a low monthly payment
A surcharge fee an' line of credit
Don't it always seem to go
You don't know what you got 'til it's packaged
They cornered the internet
And stopped information flow

They took Freedom
Put it in a Free Museum
And they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see 'em
Don't it always seem to go
You don't know what you got 'til it's packaged
They cornered the internet
And stopped information flow

[Rollingballafire]

Good one!!

[CaptainFrogbert]

So "internet freedom" means that some companies will get to limit my access to other (often competing companies) unless I pay them money. Sort of like a town allowing Home Depot to build a fence all the way around the local Lowes and them charging customers to access the competitor. And Holy Joe thinks this is capitalism. Amazing.

[ProfessorDuh]

And you'll owe your soul to the company store.

[Uggg]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10385865-94.html
link to a better news on the story