Qwest Chief Calls Net Neutrality 'Really Silly'

[Robbien]

(AP) DENVER Qwest Communications chief Dick Notebaert said Wednesday the issue of ensuring equal, open access to the Internet is "really silly" and could wind up costing consumers more money.

. . .


"Competition is good, makes us better and makes us more creative," Notebaert said. "That's why when they talk about net neutrality, bad idea. Really silly. What we're talking about has no basis in anything. It's a nice move to make the consumer pay for everything."

Some major U.S. telecommunications companies have proposed giving priority treatment to Web users who pay to get through faster. In effect, service would be broken into tiers, with more money guaranteeing quick or better access online.

. . .

Advocates of net neutrality are concerned that telephone companies want to become "gatekeepers of the Internet," said Jim McGann of the It's Our Net Coalition of businesses and consumers. "Companies like Qwest want to change the fundamentals of the Internet, charge more, boost their bottom line," McGann said.

http://cbs4denver.com/business/local_story_243122347.html

Telcos want ownership of the internet and any objection to their grabbing ownership is "Really Silly". Funny thing is that the Telcos don't expect to pay for this new right, they expect just to be handed the internet free of charge.

[aquart]

1. Aww, what I call him isn't even printable.

Even with DU's permissive standards.

[depakid]

2. How arrogant, corrupt and brazen

I wish to extend my thanks to all the DINO's who empowered- and continue to empower- assholes like this who steal from us and tell us we should like it.

[magellan]

3. How appropriate that his name is Dick

And how funny that he thinks consumers should trust him.

[rman]

6. It's amazing how many of these dicks are called Dick

Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney
Richard "Dick" Nixon
Richard "Dick" Helms (head of CIA during Nixon)

Imagine a conversation between Nixon and Helms, calling one another by their first name... (see "Nixon" the movie)

[Reckon]

4. Yes, I was shocked to see an TV ad...

...on ESPN. "They want you to pay more -- Say no to net neutrality" stating that it was a silicon valley gimmick that was bad for consumers and it would cost you more!

It was all a pack of lies!

[Justitia]

16. I've seen those ads - completely misleading. I wonder what the public

makes of them? For instance, the average ESPN viewer. Do they have any idea what the hell the commercials are talking about?

Even for me, a person somewhat enlightened on the issue, I still did a double take.

Ah well, maybe it will send folks to their internet(s) connection and see what all the fuss is.

[truthisfreedom]

5. heehee. transparent as hell.

[ixion]

7. yeah, silly internet... it was designed that way

who could've have forseen that a bunch of corporation would want to steal it for themselves? :eyes:

[YankeyMCC]

8. Pushing the meme of competition again

Competition has it's place in culture and society but it isn't a silver bullet or sacred idea that can solve any problem.

[w4rma]

9. Not "competition" in this case. It's extortion.

This will hurt small ISPs who won't get paid by web site owners. This will hurt web site owners who will have to pay every ISP to get their content shown at a normal speed.

[pokercat999]

10. What surprises me (maybe it shouldn't, considering their

level of intelligence) is that the fundies don't realize that with tiered service the porno and gambling sites will be able to afford the top (fastest) tier with no problem. While the more "wholesome" (non-corporate) sites will only be able to afford the bottom tier.

[warrens]

11. Hmmm, let's find Qwest rates today

And see where they are in two years. Headline in yesterday's Tribune, REALLY:

Phone charges to jump in 2007

....but consumers may have an edge


Now, if you believe that, I got a real nice bridge, lotsa traffic, just begging for a goldmine of a toll...I'll sell it to you cheap, cuz I like your face.

[EnviroBat]

12. I used to work for this prick...

This was the same Dick that was seeing multi-million dollar bonuses while showing employees to the door every Friday afternoon with a box and a security guard. I'm glad I quit that place when they asked me to train my replacement who was calling from India. I never did train the little shit, instead I pulled out my 401K and started working for myself. So long Qwest, you suck!

[underpants]

14. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[NashVegas]

13. Has Anything Been Said About What This Could Do to "Backbone" Users?

ie, will smaller ISPs (there are still some) have to pony up to see equal bandwidth allotment for their customers?

[MrPrax]

15. LOL...competition

Libertarian corportist types are are always using 'competitive' metaphors as if it was a sport or something. But any sport you can call a sport actually has some 'common agreed to rules' or else it wouldn't be 'competitive' or a sport, by definition.

The corporatist libertarian thinks competition is amassing ownership.

[sofa king]

17. The obvious question to ask is:

So your company advocates making less money, then? How do your stockholders feel about that?

[colonel odis]

18. i've worked on qwest's advertising a good bit and i don't see how they

stay in business.

they're barely in business, losing market share each day. and their marketing people are among the worst -- if not THE worst i've seen in 15 years.

but i'm talking about general stupidity in their operations, etc. they're utter morons.

and that's my spirit of service.

[OnyxCollie]

19. Everybody's got their something.

Qwest was hailed for not giving in to Bushco's wiretapping bullshit, but now we see their true colors.

[wellst0nev0ter]

20. Qwest Only Resisted Bushco's Wiretapping

because they can't afford any more lawsuits ever since they were one of the companies caught cooking their books a few years ago. Since the Bushies couldn't provide a boilerplate legal reasoning behind their wiretapping schemes, Qwest wisely declined to participate. Believe me, it was not because they were concerned about their customers or anything.

[OnyxCollie]

21. Yes, true altruism is a long-rotted corpse. Isn't it?

Sad to think that the only reason Qwest failed to comply was their own financial situation.

[wellst0nev0ter]

22. One Of The Biggest Lie Ever Told

is that a corporation has either a soul or a conscience. It exists only for itself.