MUST READ 1.5 days left to keep the internet Free! This is not a prank.

[AtomStrange]

old news

 

[thebigt]

i just signed the petition-cmon guys this is important. don't let them take away out internet.

 

[Deeerdre]

Just signed it also.

 

[thebigt]

Just signed it also.

good man-reps for that.

 

[freefall365]

signed. please do the same!!!! no one wants the big corps Fing with our internet speeds! it's ridiculous and a very real threat.

 

[thebigt]

signed. please do the same!!!! no one wants the big corps, Fing with our internet speeds! it's ridiculous and a very real threat.

some reps for you too.

 

[HereToStudy]

I had signed it earlier, but everyone on this site should do it. How would you like to not be able to access Anabolic Minds because a corporation sees it as unfit for your internet plan.

 

[thebigt]

I had signed it earlier, but everyone on this site should do it. How would you like to not be able to access Anabolic Minds because a corporation sees it as unfit for your internet plan.

repped.

 

[EArch]

Done

 

[bluehealer]

i just signed the petition-cmon guys this is important. don't let them take away out internet.

It's inevitable T, just like Obamacare, they DO NOT care what we think!

 

[AtomStrange]

old news

 

[iForce Dave]

I signed it. Thats ridiculous I hope this helps. I had no idea they were doing this!

 

[AtomStrange]

You all got reps for joining up. Thanks! Tell your friends too. We're short on time.

 

[oufinny]

Done, that really pisses me off to no end. Freaking Comcast... I am forced to use them where I live; free market my a**.

 

[HereToStudy]

Done, that really pisses me off to no end. Freaking Comcast... I am forced to use them where I live; free market my a**.

Same situation, and it makes my blood boil

 

[VolcomX311]

wtf

 

[zodiiac523]

signed, this **** is stupid

 

[Mase64]

signed this ishhhhhhhhhhh

 

[andrew732]

Democracy in the U.S. pfft...

 

[capnsavem]

signed. this world is insane.

 

[AtomStrange]

by the way... I encourage everyone to research as much as they like before signing a petition. Personally I think this is the best option we have at this time.

R

 

[AtomStrange]

Just saw this posted this morning -


This week, a federal court decided to end the era of the open Internet in America.

Broadband companies can now block you from visiting certain sites, stop you from using great Web applications like Skype, and force independent media makers to pay added tolls or risk not having their content delivered.

They can thumb their noses at Obama's plan to connect tens of millions of Americans on the wrong side of the digital divide.

This decision takes control of the Internet away from its users and hands it to companies like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon. It's that bad.


Free Press has a plan to return the Internet to the people who use it every day -- that's you, me and everyone:

We're asking millions of people to demand that the FCC reassert its watchdog role by simply reclassifying broadband services.

We're nearing two million letters to Washingtonin support of Net Neutrality, and will deliver them with a clear message that Congress and the FCC can't let this ruling stand.

We're convening a powerful, bipartisan coalition of consumer rights groups, public advocates, civil rights leaders, free speech advocates and others to tell Congress to stand behind the FCC's authority to protect our rights.

We're working to salvage the best aspects of the National Broadband Plan and make universal access a priority for a country that has fallen behind the rest of the world in every international measure of Internet success.


Tuesday's court decision hands over control of our communications to corporations that simply can't be trusted to act on our behalf.

Restore the Internet to Its Rightful Owners: You, Me and Everyone

There’s a way out of this legal mess. But to get there, we need to take on the powerful phone and cable lobby.

That’s a fight that we need to have and win — right now. Please join us. Our future depends on it.

Thank You,

Josh Silver
Executive Director
Free Press
Free Press Action Fund

P.S. Organizations like ours depend upon the open Internet to reach new audiences, raise money, organize supporters and pressure Washington for positive change. Please support our efforts to keep these channels open for everyone.

Want to learn more? Join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

If you haven't already, you can also join our E-Activist list.

 

[AtomStrange]

Net neutrality faces serious setbacks

Now net neutrality fans find themselves facing a serious uphill climb. Not only does the ruling open up the way — for now — for ISPs to ask websites and service providers for money; it might also allow them to restrict certain services from running on their networks entirely. Comcast, for example, may not want you to watch Hulu on its service, since then you'd have less of a reason to pay $60 a month for cable TV. It may also be able to ban VOIP services like Skype, so you'll pony up another $20 for wired telephone service. The dominoes are already lining up.

...............
I was feeling good this morning, but this news stinks.

Now people are going to complain about it and all I can say to them is... I told you so...

Hope all isn't lost yet. Seriously, if people would just tell their friends and family about this it would spread like an epidemic. Not sure why people are so afraid to sound like an 'activist' for something that will effect all of us.

Good luck in this battle my friends. It's not over yet!

 

[DAdams91982]

Seriously man.. you are backing Robert McChesney, one of the people behind the Monthly Review, an openly socialist magazine. Why wouldn't he want more over reach for the government? I have chosen my ISP and do not even have a whisper of this doom coming upon us.

McChesney quote "Any serious effort to reform the media system would have to necessarily be part of a revolutionary program to overthrow the capitalist system itself." and "There is no real answer but to remove brick by brick the capitalist system itself, rebuilding the entire society on socialist principles." and "We need to do whatever we can to limit capitalist propaganda, regulate it, minimalize it and perhaps even eliminate it."

 

[DAdams91982]

Here is the same prophet you are following doing a little interview on the struggles of socialist and the pitfalls of capitalism.

http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/246.php

The guy has an agenda and is serving it well by utilizing this NN platform to get people on board with relying on the federal government, essentially growing it larger instead of shrinking it as needed.

 

[AtomStrange]

Seriously man.. you are backing Robert McChesney, one of the people behind the Monthly Review, an openly socialist magazine. Why wouldn't he want more over reach for the government? I have chosen my ISP and do not even have a whisper of this doom coming upon us.

McChesney quote "Any serious effort to reform the media system would have to necessarily be part of a revolutionary program to overthrow the capitalist system itself." and "There is no real answer but to remove brick by brick the capitalist system itself, rebuilding the entire society on socialist principles." and "We need to do whatever we can to limit capitalist propaganda, regulate it, minimalize it and perhaps even eliminate it."

Not sure where I say anything about McChesney. or his magazine. I must say, just because a republican, democrat, and socialist may have a similar view on something doesn't mean they've off their rocker. Some issues span all parties/beliefs. Though, I haven't mentioned this guy you're talking about ever.

So, you think because your ISP hasn't told you about this that it's not true? Why would your ISP or any mainstream media tell you about this when they stand to make a fortune from it?

There will always be 'nay-sayers' I guess, and people who won't believe it until it's too late. I hope that it isn't too late, and that I'm completely wrong. I don't think I am though...

 

[hardknock]

It's hard to see this happening honestly. Too much detail to go into but, for many reasons, it seems that there is little chance ... we will see.

 

[DAdams91982]

Not sure where I say anything about McChesney. or his magazine. I must say, just because a republican, democrat, and socialist may have a similar view on something doesn't mean they've off their rocker. Some issues span all parties/beliefs. Though, I haven't mentioned this guy you're talking about ever.

So, you think because your ISP hasn't told you about this that it's not true? Why would your ISP or any mainstream media tell you about this when they stand to make a fortune from it?

There will always be 'nay-sayers' I guess, and people who won't believe it until it's too late. I hope that it isn't too late, and that I'm completely wrong. I don't think I am though...

This is the exact same guy behind freepress.net. The same person that is a self proclaimed head Marxist and has writing after writing stating how the media infringes upon every persons freedoms, and essentially that the current capitalistic media hurts free speech and that the current media needs to be hushed so true free speech can thrive. Now how do you do that? The internet is prime outlet for media and the only outlet in the future, the first step to regulation is gaining control... whats next, Fox News is part of the capitalistic media, I am guessing they are the first to be hushed since it goes against the Marxist agenda.

Also, it if funny you point to making a fortune when ISP are well informed that making throughput cheaper is the way to make money. Hell, mine just doubled for free, without limitiations on what protocols or websites I choose to visit. Some choose to bow down to the likes of the RIAA and MPAA, and block torrents (ComCast). This is their choice since they have been sued and had to settle because they provided the avenue for digital piracy.

You want to make a real difference, redefine the liability of intermediaries of digital bits, instead of trying to hand the federal government the internet. Cause you know they have done EVERYTHING so right so far.

 

[DAdams91982]

It's hard to see this happening honestly. Too much detail to go into but, for many reasons, it seems that there is little chance ... we will see.

Agreed, it is not going to happen. People are already dropping like flies from ComCast because of their torrent throttling. The free market will inevitably drive the requirement for cheap unfettered bandwidth.

 

[hardknock]

Not sure where I say anything about McChesney. or his magazine. I must say, just because a republican, democrat, and socialist may have a similar view on something doesn't mean they've off their rocker. Some issues span all parties/beliefs. Though, I haven't mentioned this guy you're talking about ever.

So, you think because your ISP hasn't told you about this that it's not true? Why would your ISP or any mainstream media tell you about this when they stand to make a fortune from it?

There will always be 'nay-sayers' I guess, and people who won't believe it until it's too late. I hope that it isn't too late, and that I'm completely wrong. I don't think I am though...

...Could, if this goes down, be a reverse of fortunes. Say everyone (media/application providers) just say "we're not paying" and pull the plug on their content? That would literally backrupt cable/isp companies...just a thought.

 

[Mulletsoldier]

The thread is a bit fatalist, I must say. It does, however, raise some interesting issues about the nature of "teh int3rw3bz1!" as private property. Technically, if one assumes these providers "own" the internet - as they do, in the practical sense of access - they can do whatever they please with their service, including restricting access to competing sites, tempering bandwidth, torrent blocking and so on. What has stopped them from doing this, and will do so in the future, most likely, is that the nature of the service they provide has a character of openness to it, and removing that will cause customers to move elsewhere.

 

[AtomStrange]

This is the exact same guy behind freepress.net. The same person that is a self proclaimed head Marxist and has writing after writing stating how the media infringes upon every persons freedoms, and essentially that the current capitalistic media hurts free speech and that the current media needs to be hushed so true free speech can thrive. Now how do you do that? The internet is prime outlet for media and the only outlet in the future, the first step to regulation is gaining control... whats next, Fox News is part of the capitalistic media, I am guessing they are the first to be hushed since it goes against the Marxist agenda.

Also, it if funny you point to making a fortune when ISP are well informed that making throughput cheaper is the way to make money. Hell, mine just doubled for free, without limitiations on what protocols or websites I choose to visit. Some choose to bow down to the likes of the RIAA and MPAA, and block torrents (ComCast). This is their choice since they have been sued and had to settle because they provided the avenue for digital piracy.

You want to make a real difference, redefine the liability of intermediaries of digital bits, instead of trying to hand the federal government the internet. Cause you know they have done EVERYTHING so right so far.

You and I will have to agree to disagree.
First, I wouldn't say I'm 'following' the Free Press. I was researching the outcome and that was one of many articles I read. The points in the article were dead on in my opinion, and were very similar to others I read... only more reader friendly for those on here that don't understand the topic.

Yes, currently the ISP's are offering more bandwidth at lower prices as there is a subscriber war out there and a real threat to lose business to the likes of wireless 4G technology which is faster than many cable ISP's, mobile, and cheaper. It'll run on your phone, your computer, your home, and your car. It's in progress and already available in some states.
Of course they will offer you more and more bandwidth, but the content is something else entirely. Right now the internet is basically still free. For how long though? It's going to go the way of Cable TV with tiered pricing for different websites. The next thing will be the sites will want a cut of the money the ISP's are charging, so the ISP's will have to charge even more.

I'm talking about ISP's charging different pricing for access to sites, and cutting bandwidth to certain sites while allowing others through with no problem.

I don't think you and I will see eye to eye on this one.

 

[hardknock]

The thread is a bit fatalist, I must say. It does, however, raise some interesting issues about the nature of "teh int3rw3bz1!" as private property. Technically, if one assumes these providers "own" the internet - as they do, in the practical sense of access - they can do whatever they please with their service, including restricting access to competing sites, tempering bandwidth, torrent blocking and so on. What has stopped them from doing this, and will do so in the future, most likely, is that the nature of the service they provide has a character of openness to it, and removing that will cause customers to move elsewhere.

This is the first point, which I listed as "too much detail to go into".

This along with several other reasons is why this may never happen or anytime soon.

 

[Mulletsoldier]

This is the first point, which I listed as "too much detail to go into".

This along with several other reasons is why this may never happen or anytime soon.

I agree, I am relatively unconcerned. But also: signing a petition to have either some bloated Republican or whiny Democrat shake his finger at Comcast is the most ridiculous solution to this potential problem that I have heard! The two million people whom signed this petition would be better off using the eleven seconds taken therein to cancel their service should the issue arise.

Who will AOL listen to: a piece of e-paper not worth the bandwidth it takes up, or an instantaneous unsubscribing of millions of customers? Petitions like this makes me wonder why people divert their energies into the path of most resistance.

 

[rochabp]

oh i sign days ago, can i sign again?

 

[DAdams91982]

I agree, I am relatively unconcerned. But also: signing a petition to have either some bloated Republican or whiny Democrat shake his finger at Comcast is the most ridiculous solution to this potential problem that I have heard! The two million people whom signed this petition would be better off using the eleven seconds taken therein to cancel their service should the issue arise.

Who will AOL listen to: a piece of e-paper not worth the bandwidth it takes up, or an instantaneous unsubscribing of millions of customers? Petitions like this makes me wonder why people divert their energies into the path of most resistance.

We both know people cave in to fear mongering Mullet. I would actually like to see any cable company or telcom company out their charge extra for facebook, that company would be on life support in T minus 12 seconds. The market just would not sustain such a company.

 

[AtomStrange]

decided to remove my comment. Would open a whole 'nother can of worms....

have a good Friday guys.

 

[DAdams91982]

You and I will have to agree to disagree.
First, I wouldn't say I'm 'following' the Free Press. I was researching the outcome and that was one of many articles I read. The points in the article were dead on in my opinion, and were very similar to others I read... only more reader friendly for those on here that don't understand the topic.

Yes, currently the ISP's are offering more bandwidth at lower prices as there is a subscriber war out there and a real threat to lose business to the likes of wireless 4G technology which is faster than many cable ISP's, mobile, and cheaper. It'll run on your phone, your computer, your home, and your car. It's in progress and already available in some states.
Of course they will offer you more and more bandwidth, but the content is something else entirely. Right now the internet is basically still free. For how long though? It's going to go the way of Cable TV with tiered pricing for different websites. The next thing will be the sites will want a cut of the money the ISP's are charging, so the ISP's will have to charge even more.

I'm talking about ISP's charging different pricing for access to sites, and cutting bandwidth to certain sites while allowing others through with no problem.

I don't think you and I will see eye to eye on this one.

First, who do you think will host 4G?

Next, 4G will never come remotely close to a wired alternative, it just will not happen.

 

[AtomStrange]

First, who do you think will host 4G?

Next, 4G will never come remotely close to a wired alternative, it just will not happen.

Seriously? It's already out there in 37 markets. Should be nationwide by year end. It's brilliantly fast. Won't say which, but I work for a telco, so on the topic of 4G I know what I'm talking about.
Many of the cable providers are scrambling to forge partnerships with the 4G carriers that are gearing up to provide services.

 

[hardknock]

I agree, I am relatively unconcerned. But also: signing a petition to have either some bloated Republican or whiny Democrat shake his finger at Comcast is the most ridiculous solution to this potential problem that I have heard! The two million people whom signed this petition would be better off using the eleven seconds taken therein to cancel their service should the issue arise.

Who will AOL listen to: a piece of e-paper not worth the bandwidth it takes up, or an instantaneous unsubscribing of millions of customers? Petitions like this makes me wonder why people divert their energies into the path of most resistance.

...I tend to think that it is because the nature of our society(or plain human nature) is to go against the grain even when we are not intentionally doing it or even aware of the action.

Or, perhaps it is just our tendency to "see things one way" ... oh well if the pool looks warm and clear, might as well dive in head first.

 

[Mulletsoldier]

We both know people cave in to fear mongering Mullet. I would actually like to see any cable company or telcom company out their charge extra for facebook, that company would be on life support in T minus 12 seconds. The market just would not sustain such a company.

You are definitely right in this instance. The internet is a very peculiar type of commodity that does not predispose well to the type of activity being talked about here. The public push back - measured in dollars, not petitions - would largely negate the initiative.

 

[DAdams91982]

Seriously? It's already out there in 37 markets. Should be nationwide by year end. It's brilliantly fast. Won't say which, but I work for a telco, so on the topic of 4G I know what I'm talking about.
Many of the cable providers are scrambling to forge partnerships with the 4G carriers that are gearing up to provide services.

I have been developing protocol and transmission backbones for going on 8 years now... 4G/WiMAX/etc will never touch a wired network throughput. Say all you want, RF will just never touch the speed of light, nor electrical pulses.

 

[AtomStrange]

old news

 

[HereToStudy]

Here in chicago, Clear, a 4G provider, has been growing at an astronomical rate.

 

[DAdams91982]

I'm not talking about having your own T1-T3 at home man...
It's still super-fast and unless people want to pay the cable company for an extended bandwidth package (at least that's how it is in NYC) you will actually get a faster throughput with WiMAX for your money than you will with our Cable ISP's out here.
The advantage of course is wireless! Why be tied to cables?
Cable companies realize this, hence the reason they're trying to put packages together with the wireless companies to sell both services.
Personally, I use DSL. It's good enough for what I use it for, though my Xbox would prefer a faster connection. 4G will be my upgrade instead of going to cable.

I am not denying there isnt a place in the market for 4G, but I am saying it will not kill cabled ISPs.

Here is where we can introduce even more fear mongering... all this RF will cause cancer!

 

[hardknock]

Here in chicago, Clear, a 4G provider, has been growing at an astronomical rate.

4G is going to grow, that is easily recognizable (just as 3G did); however, what adams is saying is that it will/can never touch the sustainability, reliability, confidentiality, nor integrity, of wired solutions. (at least, not in mine or your lifetime)

 

[hardknock]

Well, my post came in 4minutes to late...lol

 

[HereToStudy]

I am not denying there isnt a place in the market for 4G, but I am saying it will not kill cabled ISPs.

Exact reason why I havn't done the shift, was just pointing out that it is becoming a decent force. I don't think it will ever reach the level of wired.

Here is where we can introduce even more fear mongering... all this RF will cause cancer!

I laugh at you. Everyone laughed when I created my tinfoil hat and jumpsuit, but now I shall be cancer free. Its my time to be king. :silly:

 

[islandmagic]

Just Let you folks know who has comcast and verizon Please look @ your router logs and be Amazed on how much they know about your surfing and what you buy@@ if did not know this but now nowyou now!

 

[AtomStrange]

I am not denying there isnt a place in the market for 4G, but I am saying it will not kill cabled ISPs.

Here is where we can introduce even more fear mongering... all this RF will cause cancer!

Thanks for lightening up the mood. Well... not that cancer lightens the mood... ehh, forget it.
Everything causes cancer now, doesn't it?