Comments on: Network Neutrality: Simple image explains what it is & why its important http://www.rodedwards.ca/2009/10/network-neutrality-simple-image-explains-what-it-is-why-its-important/ A Manitoban Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:54:51 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Dale http://www.rodedwards.ca/2009/10/network-neutrality-simple-image-explains-what-it-is-why-its-important/comment-page-1/#comment-1910 Dale Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:43:29 +0000 http://www.rodedwards.ca/?p=249#comment-1910 It is certainly true that the average folk didn't anticipate this but it is not really a surprise. I think we need to remember that access to the internet is a privilege and not a right. It is really no surprise that internet providers haven't gone this way sooner. A choice of internet plans that includes bandwidth/speed/networks is on the horizon and I don't think there is reason for our government to fight it. The whole of the internet is not technically part of the commons nor has previous media before it so perhaps the only case the Government and NGOs need to argue for is threshold between censorship and corporate alliance. Just as the rural community will have less available in its consumer options so can the internet be shaped. The rural merchant is not censoring what his consumers can purchase, per se, but is making a good business decision based on the costs of doing business and the incentives offered to them by their corporate partners. Does "the government" have the capacity to manage the complaints/concerns for mis-management by big business to define the line between censorship and ROI? I can see the porn lobby groups breaking down doors over this one ahead of community groups. It is certainly true that the average folk didn’t anticipate this but it is not really a surprise. I think we need to remember that access to the internet is a privilege and not a right. It is really no surprise that internet providers haven’t gone this way sooner. A choice of internet plans that includes bandwidth/speed/networks is on the horizon and I don’t think there is reason for our government to fight it.

The whole of the internet is not technically part of the commons nor has previous media before it so perhaps the only case the Government and NGOs need to argue for is threshold between censorship and corporate alliance. Just as the rural community will have less available in its consumer options so can the internet be shaped. The rural merchant is not censoring what his consumers can purchase, per se, but is making a good business decision based on the costs of doing business and the incentives offered to them by their corporate partners.

Does “the government” have the capacity to manage the complaints/concerns for mis-management by big business to define the line between censorship and ROI?

I can see the porn lobby groups breaking down doors over this one ahead of community groups.

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