Comments on news posted 2007-11-08 13:54:23: AT&T is the first ISP we've seen that wants to voluntarily put mechanisms in place that will filter pirated material from the company's network. ..
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bylo
Premium
join:2004-05-04
Waterloo, ON
| Intriguing comments in today's National Post [Canada] Sandvine technology 'hot' [my bold] quote:
The principles of "net neutrality" are as old as the telegraph, but they've only become widely known since the advent of the digital age. Simply put, net neutrality ensures that all communication traffic, be it voice or data, has not been tampered with as it travels between any and all sources. But in North America, net neutrality lies in a legal grey area. In Canada, Philippa Lawson, director of the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic, says blocking Internet traffic raises the question if it is unfair discriminating Web usage which is prohibited under the Telecommunications Act.
In the United States, an FCC policy statement says "consumers are entitled to run applications and services of their choice," but that principle is "subject to reasonable network management."
Raising the question (in Canada) doesn't answer it  and making a policy statement (in the US) doesn't give it the force of law. | |
| tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Floral Park, NY
| Poop This idea of filtering content is POOP. Why build a several billion dollar network NO ONE WILL WANT TO USE. Even if it were a FIBER TO THE HOME with bandwidth that made Verizon's FTTP look like dialup.. who would want to use it if you don't have privacy or relative free reign on what content (within reason) you want to get from the internet??
That's almost like trying to sell bible belt theocracy to San Franciscans.. one size DOES NOT fit all. | |
| Rekrul
join:2007-04-21
Milford, CT
| I think this is a great idea! The day AT&T puts this plan into effect and starts filtering copyrighted content, I'm going come up with something I can create from scratch and sell. Maybe some 3D models, or icons or whatever. Then I'll put up a web site selling copies of it for $1. I figure at least a couple people will take the chance and buy a copy. Then, as soon as I find a copy of it floating around the P2P networks that is downloadable through AT&T, I'll file a lawsuit against them for failing to prevent the "theft" of my IP (Intellectual Property).
It should be a pretty easy win, since they'll have flushed their safe-harbor provisions down the toilet by actively trying to filter copyrighted content.  | |
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prestonlewis
Premium,MVM
join:2003-04-13
Sacramento, CA
 ·VoiceStick
| Monopoly One nice thing about America's free enterprise system can be demonstrated by the actions of huge companies like AT&T (for former Soutwestern Bell). The bigger they get, the more anti-consumer they become, the more people yearn for competetion with lower prices and less restrictions, the more likely someone with a few bucks will rise up and give the people what they want. Wireless ISPs, cellular internet offerings, etc. Someone will step up to the plate and offer better services than AT&T. Even Comcast, not one of my favorite companies, is at least predictable and they offer more than AT&T does in my city. Higher internet speeds, cable as opposed to satellite TV, telephone service instead of AT&T really old wiring in Sacramento, the list goes on.
There are few companies that I really, really dislike but Ed Whiteacre's SBC/AT&T is one of them. | |
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