Net Neutrality, Internet access, Media Consolidation

[robkelk]

The Register: Tired of smashing your face into the brick wall that is US net neutrality? Too bad. There's a long way to go yet, friends

The Dems even called it the Save the Internet Act of 2019 [PDF].

The draft legislation has a very slim chance of passing unless Democrats persuade Republicans to support it, ...

But at no point will the lack of net neutrality rules result in the end of the internet; it just means a more controlled, expensive internet. All that is happening is that cable companies are trying to impose their existing cable business model onto the internet, particularly since companies like Google and Facebook are using the network to become as rich and powerful as they are.

The more cable companies are forced to simply supply data at fast speeds, rather than apply control over that data, the more they become utility providers. The internet can enable content providers to go direct to the consumer - get an HBO app rather than a subscription through your cable provider.

It's a fundamental shift in power and money but it's not the end of the internet – and pretending otherwise only makes things worse, in the same way that gun control is painted as an effort to take away people's fundamental rights, and abortion is painted as the murder of babies.