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FCC's Net Neutrality proposals opposed by Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Netflix and many more.

Written by James Delahunty @ 08 May 2014 6:00 User comments (7)

FCC's Net Neutrality proposals opposed by Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Netflix and many more. A large number of Internet and tech firms have signed an open letter to the FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler opposing Net Neutrality proposals that could lead the way to paid prioritization.
Recent reports suggested that internal documents at the FCC proposed to allow Internet Service Providers (ISP) to negotiate a type of paid prioritization for better access to subscribers. Of course, the proposal has been widely condemned, as it is a clear break away from the FCC's position on paid prioritization in recent years.

Stating their objections to the possible rules change, a large number of Internet and tech firms have signed an open letter to Chairman Wheeler and the FCC, in which they argue essentially that the proposal is a major shift from the historical and traditional norm, and that it could seriously hurt innovation on the Internet.

"According to recent news reports, the Commission intends to propose rules that would enable phone and cable Internet service providers to discriminate both technically and financially against Internet companies and to impose new tolls on them. If these reports are correct, this represents a grave threat to the Internet," the letter reads.



"According to recent news reports, the Commission intends to propose rules that would enable phone and cable Internet service providers to discriminate both technically and financially against Internet companies and to impose new tolls on them. If these reports are correct, this represents a grave threat to the Internet."

It goes on to argue that the FCC must take necessary steps to ensure the Internet remains an open and free platform for both speech and commerce, so that American companies can continue to play a leading role in the technology markets.

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7 user comments

18.5.2014 10:43

Good, keep up the good fight.

28.5.2014 13:23

Billionaires fighting billionaires. This is pretty comical. Tell me this.... If the FCC was going to make it that the consumer ( not the businesses) were going to have to pay for the prioritizing, would we even hear a peep from these douchbags.

NOT ON YOUR LIFE.

This might be the cost of business from here on out.

Sorry netflix. You gouge your customers for what... To allow access to files on your computers and YOUR business takes up half the bandwidth used. You chose to take your DVD rental store in this direction, now you have to pay for being in this business.

38.5.2014 15:38

Here is the letter

http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4422119/letter_to_FCC.pdf

The problem with ISPs charging users for "more" bandwidth to use Netflix etc is that you won't get any more bandwidth; customers that refuse to pay extra will merely get restricted instead, because surely the infrastructure can't cope with "faster" as it is so strained already?

Situation here in the UK is leagues better it would appear, even if I am stuck on shitty 10mb ADSL instead of 100mb fibre optic because my street at Uni is a dump.

I wish Google Fibre would really go head first into providing internet so we can all bend over and accept their way of life that will inevitably be better but for the small price of all of your personal data ever!

49.5.2014 13:31

Originally posted by mightyzog:
Billionaires fighting billionaires. This is pretty comical. Tell me this.... If the FCC was going to make it that the consumer ( not the businesses) were going to have to pay for the prioritizing, would we even hear a peep from these douchbags.

NOT ON YOUR LIFE.

This might be the cost of business from here on out.

Sorry netflix. You gouge your customers for what... To allow access to files on your computers and YOUR business takes up half the bandwidth used. You chose to take your DVD rental store in this direction, now you have to pay for being in this business.
Guess who is going to end up paying? You and me.

510.5.2014 02:42

Well, I'm glad some of the tech giants are standing up against the FCC. I'll worry about my own beefs with Microshit and Google later on. Right now, any and all hands against the FCC's attack on Net Neutrality is a welcome show of force.

610.5.2014 10:23

And of course you can thank the good 'ol U.S of F'ing A for this one people.

Our culture in this country dictates all internet rules and regulations essentially.

Truly........this country sucks. The world's most corrupt proven day after day after day. Only difference between our corruption and all others like Mexico is that OURS isn't balanced so that 'most' can equally bribe their way out of things. In the U.S.A., one needs an insurmountable amount of money to balance the corruption brought about by our politicians who should all be publicly dragged out into streets and executed!

714.5.2014 01:54

Originally posted by tranquash:
Guess who is going to end up paying? You and me.

Exactly!

Originally posted by MagengarZ:
Well, I'm glad some of the tech giants are standing up against the FCC. I'll worry about my own beefs with Microshit and Google later on. Right now, any and all hands against the FCC's attack on Net Neutrality is a welcome show of force.
Well put.


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