The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has decided to abandon net neutrality and allow telecoms companies to charge websites for access.
The FTC said in a report that, despite popular support for net neutrality, it was minded to let the market sort out the issue.
This means that the organisation will not stand in the way of companies using differential pricing to make sure that some websites can be viewed more quickly than others. The report also counsels against net neutrality legislation.
"This report recommends that policy makers proceed with caution in the evolving dynamic industry of broadband internet access, which is generally moving towards more, not less, competition," FTC chairman Deborah Platt Majoras wrote.
"In the absence of significant market failure, or demonstrated consumer harm, policy makers should be particularly hesitant to enact new regulation in this area."
The report has caused outrage in the online community. Many are worried that any abandonment of net neutrality will harm competition, since it will allow big companies to outspend start-ups.
View: Full Article @ Vnunet
The FTC said in a report that, despite popular support for net neutrality, it was minded to let the market sort out the issue.
This means that the organisation will not stand in the way of companies using differential pricing to make sure that some websites can be viewed more quickly than others. The report also counsels against net neutrality legislation.
"This report recommends that policy makers proceed with caution in the evolving dynamic industry of broadband internet access, which is generally moving towards more, not less, competition," FTC chairman Deborah Platt Majoras wrote.
"In the absence of significant market failure, or demonstrated consumer harm, policy makers should be particularly hesitant to enact new regulation in this area."
The report has caused outrage in the online community. Many are worried that any abandonment of net neutrality will harm competition, since it will allow big companies to outspend start-ups.
View: Full Article @ Vnunet
We'll see how many FTC commissioners land jobs with telecoms after their terms are over.
Basically, the Internet in the US is now at the mercy of those companies controlling the backbone (such as Verizon and AT&T). Anyone that could threaten them in a telecom field (but still rely on them to access the net) are screwed.
Yes, Google, this means you.
It would have to be noticeable. Why would a big company spend millions to make sure they have priority only to see that their site only loads like 1 or 2 seconds faster. I would think that the delay would have to be noticeable so in the 15-30 sec range. However, here is the problem. Like many people I have spent a number of years on dial-up, so if a site takes an extra 30 sec to load, it doesn't make much difference to me.
Except you'll still be paying for broadband.
Glassed Silver:mac
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