Google and Verizon in Talks on Selling Internet Priority

[NeoConsSuck]

Source: NY Times

Google and Verizon, two leading players in Internet service and content, are nearing an agreement that could allow Verizon to speed some online content to Internet users more quickly if the content’s creators are willing to pay for the privilege.

The charges could be paid by companies, like YouTube, owned by Google, for example, to Verizon, one of the nation’s leading Internet service providers, to ensure that its content received priority as it made its way to consumers. The agreement could eventually lead to higher charges for Internet users.

Such an agreement could overthrow a once-sacred tenet of Internet policy known as net neutrality, in which no form of content is favored over another. In its place, consumers could soon see a new, tiered system, which, like cable television, imposes higher costs for premium levels of service.

Any agreement between Verizon and Google could also upend the efforts of the Federal Communications Commission to assert its authority over broadband service, which was severely restricted by a federal appeals court decision in April.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/technology/05secret.html?_r=1&hp

[RC]

1. So, they are prying open the back door.

If they get away with this then good-by open Internet.

[ejpoeta]

2. what pisses me off hte most is that the internet is the only place we have left that we are equal...

that we have a voice and it's like people don't even care. i mean, seriously.... this is our last free place that is truly democratic. arrgghh. and they are going to take it away from us.

[hvn_nbr_2]

21. What pisses me off is that two giant corporations are the only ones at the table. nt

[Joanne98]

3. This is exactly what Al Franken said they do!

[onehandle]

4. Google is the new Microsoft and is looking for willing partners in crime.

I would reconsider your relationship with their 'free' products and emerging platforms.

[aquart]

7. I hope their dicks fall off.

I do not like this at all.

[KansDem]

5. I thought the Internet was public?

You only paid for access to it.

How can private corporations scheme to divvy it up?

[Downwinder]

6. Google is into everything, how do you turn them completely off.

[Fearless]

8. Going to China I believe.

[Chef Eric]

9. Imagine if our newspapers only printed stories from news agencies that bribed them.

Imagine what our newspapers would be like, because that is what the internet will be like.

[scentopine]

10. I thought only Bush admin held secret talks with large corporations. Is Obama admin just as bad?

[quakerboy]

11. Huh?

So is Obama part of Google or Verizon?

[tomm2thumbs]

12. If you want to pay extra, we'll switch the traffic light sooner for ya - howzat sound?

oh, and we'll also be sure and leave a parking space available for ya in front - just because you is good folk

[Downwinder]

14. Like a toll on the HOV lane.

[lbrtbell]

13. K & fucking R!

I am SO sick of this. I'm sick of our government and our courts being stacked in favor of big business, and against the people.

I'm beginning to think we need to vote out all the incumbents, until they get the message that THEY work for US. I don't care which party they are, if they're working for corporations, they're part of the problem.

[BadgerKid]

15. Wondering if Google's dark fiber is involved

they bought up years ago. Depending on how geographically spread out that was, maybe Google is thinking to direct some higher-priority Verizon traffic onto what essentially could be used as a private network.

To draw an analogy, I'm thinking Google might be trying to sell access to the horizontal escalator in the airport.

[Downwinder]

16. This I have to see. Are they going to guarantee end to end throughput?

Will everyone get their connection bumped to a T1 or T3 with no extra charge?

[emsimon33]

17. OK--I will no longer use Google

Chrome, Google Docs, etc. I don't use Verizon now so that's no problem. I am also calling my useless congressman and then my senators. We need to stop this.

[nilram]

18. First, do no evil. Second, hey -- how 'bout some evil!

Of course, Verizon's motto has always been, "First, do evil."

[bl968]

19. double dipping

I pay for a internet connection and the bandwidth I use. What I do with it is my own business. Charging a surcharge for providers to get their content to my connection or they will slow me down on my already paid for bandwidth is double dipping and should be illegal. The only person who should be able to charge for priority access to my bandwidth is me.

[JDPriestly]

20. So, we don't have to use Google and Verizon.

We have Verizon for our cell phones and are thinking of leaving that service anyway. This is just one more reason. I use Google a lot, but I can use Yahoo just as well. There are other search engines too. Who needs Google?

[Uncle Joe]

22. Selling out Net Neutrality would be a major tragedy and setback for American democracy;

such as it is.

Thanks for the thread. NeoConsSuck.