AT&T likes Google & Verizon's wired-only net neutrality stance, Time Warner Cable doesn't
By Tim Stevens 
posted August 17th 2010 8:02AM
posted August 17th 2010 8:02AM
This is surely a real problem, but what we haven't heard yet is just how letting companies like Verizon and AT&T create premium tiers for wireless content will do anything other than allow them to make more money while still complaining about the same 'ol problems.We are constantly striving to increase the efficiency of our spectrum resources, but the amount of available spectrum in any given market is finite. And while we regularly split cell sectors and add additional cell towers, there are very real limits placed on cell site construction by zoning and local approval boards.
Meanwhile, a company that has virtually no skin in the wireless game, Time Warner Cable, isn't so keen on this stance regarding traditional, wired broadband. CEO Glenn Britt says his company would never throttle content in a way that would violate net neutrality, but still doesn't want more rules put in place that would prevent them from doing so. Funny how everyone likes net neutrality until it threatens to cramp their style, isn't it?
Google. Redefining "evil" one letter at a time.
Now all wireless networks follow google/verizon to avoid leaving money on the table and before you know it they will be throwing money around Washington to get it passed.
The tollbooths will be open in no time.
For those of you in favor of government enforced "net neutrality" should start your own ISP and adhere to net neutrality. Once government is evolved in the internet content, the internet is OVER as we know it. Let the companies that want to restrict access lose users... It's called a free market, I think some of you have heard of this???
@Goodtimes22 it's only a free market if there is competition. And municipal internet, where it hans't been blocked by ISPs, has been very successful http://goo.gl/jUQz (50Mbps/$50/month), where private industry felt is wasn't necessary (read: maximum profitability).
@Paul M If some town wants to tax its residents so everyone can have "free" internet OR if it wants to use the power of local zoning laws to squeeze ISP's of either money of market share... Good luck to them. A private company can't compel me to do anything. This is why I left AT&T because of usage caps... How much do you believe in your principles? If a company does something you don't like either leave them or force them to change by hitting them in the pocket, not big daddy government. Government is the bullet you can't take back.
@Goodtimes22
Christ, finally someone on here with sense.
@ tim stevens:
"This is surely a real problem, but what we haven't heard yet is just how letting companies like Verizon and AT&T create premium tiers for wireless content will do anything other than allow them to make more money while still complaining about the same 'ol problems."
wow! you hit the nail on the head! why get rid of the red tape or actually fix what's broken when you can just find ways of taking more money from us? i'm going to make a prediction: all wireless carriers are going to jump on board with this and all wired companies (Time Warner, COX, etc.) will not.
Leaving wireless of the neutrality table just doesn't cut it. It's pretty easy to see how wired might "die" over the next 10-20 years as wireless technologies get better and are far easier to implement than laying cable.
Then we have to have this debate all over again, except instead of having net neutrality as the standard/default position, it'll have to be wrested back from the wireless providers.
If I were epically rich, I think I would start a nationwide ISP and literally call it: Big Dumb Pipe. Sell access at dirt cheap prices with no pretense or extras; just a utilitarian series of tubes; logging nothing, tracking nothing, throttling nothing, with no backroom sweetheart deals with other ISPs nor any of the villanous Content Lords. I suspect I would become even more epically rich.
@TheHoldSteady They'll find some reason to lobby to outlaw you.
@TheHoldSteady
Maybe we can make a start-up.
"CEO Glenn Britt says his company would never throttle content"
Bullshit. Time Warner throttles Youtube to death. They just started fucking with my Netflix too. Fuck Time Warner.
My opinion is this is a cop-out and political bargain. Goggle is throwing it's users under the bus to benefit itself. In the wired world it's strong and entrenched and has the most to gain from this openness. In The wireless world it's still weak but rising and has carrier arse to kiss.
As a wireless user who would like to break out of the fiefdoms constructed by the carriers this does not help me.
If I could, I would
I'll start a little ISP where I live(Brooklyn,ny), convenient asking for some VCs for some start-up cash and offer 1gbps internet for $25 a month and $1000 for smaller ISP to customize service and $8000 to big ISP/wireless carriers. Offer free citywide wifi for subs with net neutrality since its technically from a wired connection
Doesn't the very fact that one makes a decision regarding net neutrality make one not neutral?
I understand that perhaps with regard to the technical limit cell towers have reached their capacative limit. But then again if one advertises an ulimited dataplan per month, that's what the consumer sees. It is a pity that a discussion has to be held only now, while the discussion on net neutrality has been going on so long. Surely companies can see the impact of selectively dismissing net neutrality will have an amazing impact, and perhaps be their downfall in investment, client satisfaction and progress.
I am sick of Corporations doing whatever the fuck they want. ALL politicians allow them to get away with it in the name of Capitalism. This country is not really a democracy anymore. Hell I don't even know of a "modern" nation that actually and truly is.