CollegeSportsUnfiltered.com

admin (289)

Administrator

Registered: 2017-08-24

Posts: 2,244

Net neutrality

On the surface, it sounds like a good thing. It seems to mean that all websites compete for bandwidth on equal terms.

I can see the drawbacks, though. It's regulation, a sort of Americans with Disabilities Act for inefficient sites and protocols. It's like, you see wheelchair ramps and handicapped parking spots and think, "hey, that's nice," until you see some 400 pound recreational eating enthusiast riding a Jazzy up one at Winn-Dixie.

When I think of who might be impacted, my guess is that people playing real time online games with fancy graphics and lots of participants will be the first victims. There probably will be dedicated "gamer packages" that people will have to buy on top of their regular network service.

Online video is another potential target. I can see sites with lots of video ads getting targeted by ISPs. "Cord cutters" are another tempting target for ISPs like Comcast. I don't necessarily have a problem with that. Did not enjoy all of the alternative-to-cable football broadcasts I had to watch this season.

The danger is that ideology will enter into the ISP's calculations of whose traffic gets throttled. I think that's something that can be legislated and litigated against independent of what people are calling "net neutrality" right now.

SoMs Eagle (189)

Member

Registered: 2017-08-29

Posts: 509

Re: Net neutrality

The future will sort all of that out shortly. The technology coming is incredible. No need to let greedy bureaucrats get their grubby little fingers on something else they know nothing about. Remember how they were going to make health care affordable?  No thanks!

stinkfist (764)

Member

Registered: 2017-08-29

Posts: 3,533

Re: Net neutrality

I see rural areas with only a single provider getting screwed.....

I'm still torn on this one.....

...taking a 'wait and see' approach.....

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AndreWhere (1252)

Member

From: Decatur, GA

Registered: 2017-08-24

Posts: 8,746

Re: Net neutrality

I see rural areas with only a single provider getting screwed.....

I'm still torn on this one.....

...taking a 'wait and see' approach.....

"Torn" is a pretty apt description.

If this results in bandwidth hogs playing World of Warcraft in granny's basement getting screwed in favor of people browsing lightweight websites like this one, then who cares?

If it results in sites of a certain ideological bent slowing to a crawl, then that's a problem.

As for the single-provider thing, isn't that just life? I live deep in the city, and my choices are (I think) Comcast or putting some goofy plastic dish on my roof.

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Bring back Reed V. "Pie" TurkPalmer Eustachy.

stinkfist (764)

Member

Registered: 2017-08-29

Posts: 3,533

Re: Net neutrality

I see rural areas with only a single provider getting screwed.....

I'm still torn on this one.....

...taking a 'wait and see' approach.....

"Torn" is a pretty apt description.

If this results in bandwidth hogs playing World of Warcraft in granny's basement getting screwed in favor of people browsing lightweight websites like this one, then who cares?

If it results in sites of a certain ideological bent slowing to a crawl, then that's a problem.

As for the single-provider thing, isn't that just life? I live deep in the city, and my choices are (I think) Comcast or putting some goofy plastic dish on my roof.

comshite lifted their 300 gb limit w/o penalty ~1 yr ago in the 'burg.....I stream everything.....the TV has become passe in my world....for me, it's much easier to sift through tabs than flip through worthless channels....

I'm not a gamer.....

it's going to be interesting to see how this plays out....

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SoMs Eagle (189)

Member

Registered: 2017-08-29

Posts: 509

Re: Net neutrality

We are not far from service over the electrical grid delivered in the home or office via diodes in light buLbs at speeds unthinkable today. Just keep the damn government regulators out of it a few more years.