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Net Neutrality Repealed in the US

  • 14-12-2017 10:11PM
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,095 ✭✭✭


    THe FCC in America have repealed Net Neutrality... Here's just a glimpse of what this means for Americans:
    Take Google for example. Now that net neutrality rules have been dismantled, the internet monolith faces the possibility of paying higher fees to access high-speed (meaning, the same speeds they've enjoyed for the past two years) lanes. This is one reason Google, Apple, Facebook, Twitter and other major companies have been so loudly, fervently opposed to the destruction of net neutrality: They want to make money, and paying higher fees doesn't compute with this goal. Meanwhile, small ISPs hoping to enter the market would face these same elevated prices for faster connections, potentially stifling innovation at the onset.

    ISPs, on the other hand, want the ability to charge these higher fees. Not only does today's FCC's ruling open the path for ISPs to institute multiple internet speed lanes, but it also allows them to engage in previously banned practices like throttling, blocking and paid prioritization. Throttling, for instance, would allow a company like Comcast to slow speeds down on certain apps or sites, thereby nudging people toward alternative services. Comcast is the largest ISP in the US and it happens to own NBCUniversal, which has a controlling stake in Hulu. If Comcast wants to give Hulu an edge over Netflix, it's now free to slow down speeds just for Netflix. Hell, it could even block the service entirely.

    Source: https://www.engadget.com/2017/12/14/net-neutrality-what-now/

    The definition of net neutrality is: "The principle that Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favouring or blocking particular products or websites.".

    Oh dear!! This is a little scary...... Basically, the internet is set to become an absolute sh!t show for the smaller ISP's... All of the conglomerates in bed with the big guys will have quick access granted to their websites. The others will be slow as bejaysis. So if you're on your fave site and it's barely loading, you're eventually going to look elsewhere. And that elsewhere will be what they decide you look at. You won't get that decision anymore.


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 912 ✭✭✭doc22


    Why should ISP's invest massive sums into infrastructure while allowing other companies profit of there backs?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,166 ✭✭✭Are Am Eye


    In the long run it will be beneficial if different private business(big web companies) add their own infrastructure which will secure their autonomy and improve the overall situation.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 27,833 ✭✭✭✭ThisRegard


    doc22 wrote: »
    Why should ISP's invest massive sums into infrastructure while allowing other companies profit of there backs?

    Here here. Now, how do I pay my transport provider their cut of my profits I earn from them taking me to and from the place I make my money.

    It's a nonsensical argument.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,034 ✭✭✭Sonics2k


    doc22 wrote: »
    Why should ISP's invest massive sums into infrastructure while allowing other companies profit of there backs?

    You know the various ISP's have been given anywhere between $200billion and $400billion to expand the infrastructure across the US by the Government, right?

    No Net Neutrality also means that ISP's can throttle bandwidth to certain websites either because they want you to use their own platform (Netflix for example) or simply because they want you to pay more per month.

    Thankfully in the EU we have Net Neutrality, and it's not going anywhere.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 33,778 ✭✭✭✭Princess Consuela Bananahammock


    So, potentially daft question coming in here (not as tech savvy as most of you here), but will this effect non-US internet users?

    Everything I don't like is either woke or fascist - possibly both - pick one.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 912 ✭✭✭doc22


    ThisRegard wrote: »
    Here here. Now, how do I pay my transport provider their cut of my profits I earn from them taking me to and from the place I make my money.

    It's a nonsensical argument.

    If you were using say a bus as a mode of transport to deliver products commercially say as a courier and taking up space with parcels would you not be expected to pay more?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,811 ✭✭✭✭bodhrandude


    So, potentially daft question coming in here (not as tech savvy as most of you here), but will this effect non-US internet users?

    It could affect streaming of US premiered shows and torrent sites and the like.

    If you want to get into it, you got to get out of it. (Hawkwind 1982)



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 27,833 ✭✭✭✭ThisRegard


    doc22 wrote: »
    If you were using say a bus as a mode of transport to deliver products commercially say as a courier and taking up space with parcels would you not be expected to pay more?

    Will the bus company charge me more, drive much, much slower, or the long way, if my neighbour pays them more for preferential treatment, making it harder for me to get to work and earn money?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 912 ✭✭✭doc22


    Do you think it's fair that websites like netflix's can choke up infrastructure but pay nothing towards it's up keep?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 27,833 ✭✭✭✭ThisRegard


    doc22 wrote: »
    Do you think it's fair that websites like netflix's can choke up infrastructure but pay nothing towards it's up keep?

    Have you read how Netflix manage their data over the internet via their CDNs they pay for?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,095 ✭✭✭Wurly


    It also means having to pay for downloading simple things like PDF files.

    There's talk of social media becoming a chargeable service like this:

    Twitter: $14.99/month
    Snapchat: $9.99/month
    YouTube: $19.99/month
    Netflix: $9.99/per movie
    Google: $1.99/per search

    Nuts!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,995 ✭✭✭Ipso


    Wurly wrote: »
    It also means having to pay for downloading simple things like PDF files.

    There's talk of social media becoming a chargeable service like this:

    Twitter: $14.99/month
    Snapchat: $9.99/month
    YouTube: $19.99/month
    Netflix: $9.99/per movie
    Google: $1.99/per search

    Nuts!

    Hopefully this could be the end of facebook and twatter!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 502 ✭✭✭Pero_Bueno


    Sonics2k wrote: »
    You know the various ISP's have been given anywhere between $200billion and $400billion to expand the infrastructure across the US by the Government, right?

    No Net Neutrality also means that ISP's can throttle bandwidth to certain websites either because they want you to use their own platform (Netflix for example) or simply because they want you to pay more per month.

    Thankfully in the EU we have Net Neutrality, and it's not going anywhere.


    Good, I was about to ask will it effect the EU - hope above stays true for the foreseeable future anyway.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 502 ✭✭✭Pero_Bueno


    It could affect streaming of US premiered shows and torrent sites and the like.

    It could, but I suspect people will start to use secure VPNs - ISP can't see the encrypted data.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,802 ✭✭✭✭suicide_circus


    There's nothing American about neutrality!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,837 ✭✭✭dublinman1990


    You forgot one important detail about that decision from the FCC.

    The US House of Congress could make the decision with a simple majority vote calling for this repeal to be reversed. But then if this vote isn't reversed at all; it could be a complete disaster for enabling continuing progression through all areas of the digital economy in America.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,465 ✭✭✭✭end of the road


    doc22 wrote: »
    Do you think it's fair that websites like netflix's can choke up infrastructure but pay nothing towards it's up keep?

    netflics pays for the infrastructure they use.

    I'm very highly educated. I know words, i have the best words, nobody has better words then me.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,003 ✭✭✭Hammer89


    I have one question and one question only: Can I still ****?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,785 ✭✭✭KungPao


    Hammer89 wrote: »
    I have one question and one question only: Can I still ****?
    Yeah but it’s $9.99 per ejaculation ☹️


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Aren't some of our practices here anti-Net Neutrality? You have mobile phone networks offering free access to YouTube, Facebook, etc. Pretty sure that's against what is defined as Net Neutrality.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,638 ✭✭✭Infini


    Aren't some of our practices here anti-Net Neutrality? You have mobile phone networks offering free access to YouTube, Facebook, etc. Pretty sure that's against what is defined as Net Neutrality.

    In fairness theres a difference between free access and actively throttling competitors. The real problem with the net neutrality repeal is ISPs acting the bollocks and slowing down their competitors. ISPs wont be to quick either on ripping people off because firstly the net neutrality rules came about in the first place because of their messing. The second is that congress may yet block the repeal expecially after the loss of a republican stronghold and rising fury of people at their shenanigans.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Sonics2k wrote: »
    Thankfully in the EU we have Net Neutrality, and it's not going anywhere.
    We actually don't. It's how a Portugese ISP can do this and Eir/Meteor can give free access to selected social media sites via their "Social Networking Bundle". From https://www.eir.ie/mobile/prepay/
    On the Meteor Simplicity 4G plans you will automatically get unlimited access to Youtube (until 28th Feb 2018), Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, viber and whatsapp without eating into your data allowance.
    netflics pays for the infrastructure they use.
    Indeed. In fact, Eir have a Netflix CDN in-house. Unlike Virgin Media, who were throttling the hell out of it a few years back by misrouting traffic via the US and back.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,850 ✭✭✭Fnz


    Hammer89 wrote: »
    I have one question and one question only: Can I still ****?

    Well, Comcast and AT&T may throttle you...
    Aren't some of our practices here anti-Net Neutrality? You have mobile phone networks offering free access to YouTube, Facebook, etc. Pretty sure that's against what is defined as Net Neutrality.

    Thin end of the wedge, few will get outraged by getting free additional data. Can later be thrown in the face of objectors when Ireland/EU decide to repeal NN - "truth is we've never had neutrality... and it has been great for consumers!"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,547 ✭✭✭Foxhound38


    He couldn't even just do it and not be a complete pryk about it - he's actually rubbing everyone's noses in it.



    Also one of the people in the harlem shake part of it is an alt-right loon.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,034 ✭✭✭Sonics2k


    Karsini wrote: »
    We actually don't. It's how a Portugese ISP can do this and Eir/Meteor can give free access to selected social media sites via their "Social Networking Bundle". From https://www.eir.ie/mobile/prepay/


    Indeed. In fact, Eir have a Netflix CDN in-house. Unlike Virgin Media, who were throttling the hell out of it a few years back by misrouting traffic via the US and back.

    We actually do:

    http://berec.europa.eu/eng/netneutrality/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality_law#European_Union

    Basically all Net Neutrality means is that ISP's can't actively block or throttle your access to certain websites.

    Eir, for example, don't block or throttle your access to social media sites, rather they simply don't include the data used when browsing those sites.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 617 ✭✭✭biZrb


    I think this is a disaster for the consumer, it now gives ISPs the ability to charge extra for certain things on the internet that were once part of the package the consumer received from an ISP. The greed of corporate companies in America and the support they receive from Senators is just astonishing.

    Also, that Ajit Pai guy seems like a prat.


  • Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 81,106 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sephiroth_dude


    That Ajit Pai deserve a box, the smary little bollox!


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Sonics2k wrote: »
    We actually do:

    http://berec.europa.eu/eng/netneutrality/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality_law#European_Union

    Basically all Net Neutrality means is that ISP's can't actively block or throttle your access to certain websites.

    Eir, for example, don't block or throttle your access to social media sites, rather they simply don't include the data used when browsing those sites.
    But if we have Net Neutrality, how are MEO getting away with what they're doing?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 27,833 ✭✭✭✭ThisRegard


    Karsini wrote: »
    We actually don't. It's how a Portugese ISP can do this and Eir/Meteor can give free access to selected social media sites via their "Social Networking Bundle". From https://www.eir.ie/mobile/prepay/

    I've had this debate before. It's not really the same. They're additional add on for a mobile phone package. If you don't take them you're not restricted from using them.

    If you voluntarily do take them you're not excluded from using any other service, nor is any other service throttled or blocked from being used. Any of the services included in such bundles don't pay to do so in order to throttle rival services.

    With the days of all you can eat packages on this side of the world you don't really need such packages and can use your data to do whatever you want.


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  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    But you're still favouring one service over another.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 33,778 ✭✭✭✭Princess Consuela Bananahammock


    Hammer89 wrote: »
    I have one question and one question only: Can I still ****?

    No and yes. No, it's still going to be sinful; while yes, but you might have to get used to this:

    905670.jpg?b64lines=IE9ILCBDQVBUQUlOIEpBTkVXQVkuIE1NTSwKIExBQ0UtLSBUSEUgRklOQUwKIEJSQVNTSUVSRS4=

    Everything I don't like is either woke or fascist - possibly both - pick one.



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 27,833 ✭✭✭✭ThisRegard


    Karsini wrote: »
    But you're still favouring one service over another.

    I suppose it could be argued that they're just given people what they want, reflecting the most used apps, rather than being driven by those who own the apps.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,397 ✭✭✭✭Digital Solitude


    ThisRegard wrote: »
    I suppose it could be argued that they're just given people what they want, reflecting the most used apps, rather than being driven by those who own the apps.

    I would imagine it stifles competition somewhat.

    How would you go about setting up a new social network or a new video hosting site when your main and biggest competitors don't count towards consumers data cap, but yours does.

    I don't think it's directly malicious from Eir, VF, 3 etcs POV but I'd be surprised if Facebook, Twitter and Google aren't paying a hat of money to ensure they're the only ones benefitting


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,034 ✭✭✭Sonics2k


    Karsini wrote: »
    But if we have Net Neutrality, how are MEO getting away with what they're doing?

    I'm not an expert on it, but I believe that MEO is not actually preventing/blocking/throttling you from accessing this sites unless you pay, rather they give you 'unlimited' access to them each month and have no worry about using up your data allowance.

    it's targeted at people who would easily use say 5gb of data on just Snapchat in a month, but the monthly allowance overall is 6gb. Meaning they only have 1gb left for the rest of the data.

    I'm not saying I'm a fan of it, but this doesn't really break net neutrality.

    If MEO or another network decided to massively reduce your speeds when using Netflix, or simply prevent you from using it, unless you paid extra then that would be against Net Neutrality laws.


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 17,150 Mod ✭✭✭✭cherryghost


    ThisRegard wrote: »
    Have you read how Netflix manage their data over the internet via their CDNs they pay for?

    Netflix operate their own CDN, for well over a year now.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 27,833 ✭✭✭✭ThisRegard


    I would imagine it stifles competition somewhat.

    How would you go about setting up a new social network or a new video hosting site when your main and biggest competitors don't count towards consumers data cap, but yours does.

    As I said, the cap is so large these days there's little obstruction to using any service.
    Netflix operate their own CDN, for well over a year now.

    That's my point.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,397 ✭✭✭✭Digital Solitude


    ThisRegard wrote: »
    As I said, the cap is so large these days there's little obstruction to using any service.

    Not true at all, most mobile plans in this country have a cap of 20-30gb maximum, less than 1gb a day.

    What would you consider a large cap?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,304 ✭✭✭Chrongen


    So, potentially daft question coming in here (not as tech savvy as most of you here), but will this effect non-US internet users?


    Eventually


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,304 ✭✭✭Chrongen


    Wurly wrote: »
    THe FCC in America have repealed Net Neutrality... Here's just a glimpse of what this means for Americans:



    Source: https://www.engadget.com/2017/12/14/net-neutrality-what-now/

    The definition of net neutrality is: "The principle that Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favouring or blocking particular products or websites.".

    Oh dear!! This is a little scary...... Basically, the internet is set to become an absolute sh!t show for the smaller ISP's... All of the conglomerates in bed with the big guys will have quick access granted to their websites. The others will be slow as bejaysis. So if you're on your fave site and it's barely loading, you're eventually going to look elsewhere. And that elsewhere will be what they decide you look at. You won't get that decision anymore.


    Any of the last remaining fools who still cling to the notion that the US has anything to do with freedom of any kind need to have their heads tested.

    This will also wipe out websites/blogs/news services that are critical of the US government or carry content that is in anyway embarrassing or damning.

    RIP Wikileaks.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 623 ✭✭✭TAFKAlawhec


    Karsini wrote: »
    We actually don't. It's how a Portugese ISP can do this...
    If you count Snopes as being reliable, then the things being made available on the MEO page are additional extras available on top of standard internet access on their mobile network. Not quite the same as what's been given the green light in the USA where certain traffic can be throttled at the whim of the ISP for company preference or extortion etc.

    https://www.snopes.com/portugal-net-neutrality/

    On the issues of the likes of Facebook, Wikipedia and others being zero-rated on mobile data plans, while I don't see it myself as being inherently wrong I can understand the reasons opposing it as being against net neutrality in the strictest sense which at the same time puts users into a semi-walled garden which inhibits outside competitors. If there had to be a choice between an offer of specific sites of an internet plan getting zero rated being banned, and between what is now being allowed in the USA, I'd choose the former every time.


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  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    I take that back so. :o

    But it does bring up a point, if the EU do have net neutrality rules, then Virgin Media were obviously violating them back at the end of 2015 with the Netflix and YouTube throttling. I left at the time so I don't know if it's still going on with YouTube, but many believe that Netflix paid up, hence the integration with Horizon TV now.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 27,833 ✭✭✭✭ThisRegard


    Not true at all, most mobile plans in this country have a cap of 20-30gb maximum, less than 1gb a day.

    What would you consider a large cap?

    I get by with 1GB a month!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 893 ✭✭✭PLL


    I always thought charges would come in for Social Media. I mean we pay sky to transmit channels we like. Why shouldn't we pay for apps that people spend hours on? They're businesses' after all. People will pay to use them.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    PLL wrote: »
    I always thought charges would come in for Social Media. I mean we pay sky to transmit channels we like. Why shouldn't we pay for apps that people spend hours on? They're businesses' after all. People will pay to use them.
    That analogy doesn't really work here though. When you watch pay TV, you pay the broadcaster, not the service provider. That would be the equivalent of paying SES (the satellite operator) to watch a channel on the satellite. In that case, the channel doesn't get the money, the satellite operator does.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,397 ✭✭✭✭Digital Solitude


    ThisRegard wrote: »
    I get by with 1GB a month!

    Fair ****s, I regularly use 25gb+, would often have hit 100gb+ before I got broadband in the house.

    As another poster said, if I were to allow FB and YouTube data free as opposed to a total repeal of NN, I'd give the free data every time. I don't necessarily agree with the practice but I can see the benefits for consumers.

    Back to US NN, when does this become finalised? By my understanding it can still be overturned.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,036 ✭✭✭wheresmahbombs


    ThisRegard wrote: »
    I get by with 1GB a month!

    Wow. I wonder what it would be like if I had to deal with the same struggle you endure.

    Also, **** Ajit Pai.


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