Net Neutrality or Something or Other

It looks like I was planning on writing something on the "net neutrality" law that passed about a week ago, but it was like a week ago, so I'll just put up the shit ton of links i procured in preparation, then maybe write a little something.

TV's future: FCC decisions on Internet access, Comcast-NBC merger approaching

FCC set to enact new net neutrality rules

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-karr/obama-fcc-caves-on-net-ne_b_799435.html 

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/12/fcc-rule/

And so it goes...

Clearly there do need to be some rules in place.  While the vast openness of the Internet is it's strength, without ANY regulation, it can quickly turn into a madhouse of spam, viruses, and unsavory material.  However, favoring the companies which supply the internet itself seems to be one of the dumbest ways to go about it (an alternative though, I cannot think of).  I do like the example of what will happen to Netflix, now that comcast can kill the bandwidth dealing specifically with streaming it in favor of their own on demand videos.

By giving control to the gatekeepers, they do in fact keep things under control.  By giving control to the gatekeepers, they give unilateral control to the Internet providers.  By giving control to the gatekeepers, an entire market is compromised and colluded.  By giving control to the gatekeepers, the creativity and ingenuity of the Internet may be reduced to the trickle speed given to off-market sites.

I guess we'll see how this plays out.  I don't think anyone was expecting true net neutrality in any case.

-- Knuttel