NOTE: I briefly searched the forums in an attempt to make sure this same topic had not already been posted about, so if I missed it somehow, please just delete it and move on - my apologies.

Soon, the United States Congress will vote on whether to support Network Neutrality or not. Network Neutrality is a law that requires ISP's, and Webhosting companies to give every site the same amount of bandwidth for the same reasonable price. This means that the website that you have hosted for 10$ a month has access to the same amount of bandwidth as the site that Big Corporation Co. has paid the same 10$ a month for from the same hosting company.

Big telecommunications companies like Comcast, MCI, and AT&T, are trying to get Network Neutrality revoked so that they can provide bandwidth to companies based on how much they pay for it. For example, Wal-Mart's website will pay for a staggering amount of bandwidth, while non-profit web-sites like Wikipedia will only be able to afford what they already pay, meaning Wikipedia runs at the same speed as a Freewebs site while Wal-Mart's site could withstand a DDoS attack beyond what any of you could fathom.

This in effect means that only the huge multi-billion dollar corporations could afford to extend their business to the Web, killing all the current free services we take for granted - Google, Wikipedia, these forums, PlanetSourceCode, Gamefaqs/IGN/Gamespy/Gamespot, Newegg, etc.

I know you are saying to yourself right now, "That could never happen." Well, it's coming down to the wire, and it's imposssible to tell how Congress will vote. Many of our incredibly corrupt members of congress lay in the deep pockets of the corporations that support the movement, and only an overwhleming show of opposition will make a difference. For this reason, MoveOn.org is sponsoring a petition to support Network Neutrality. You all need to sign the petition. We currently have over 250,000 signatures.

Sign here!

Signed...

[quote="Dyndrilliac"]killing all the current free services we take for granted - Google, Wikipedia,[/quote]
WP would be a loss, but I don't quite think Google counts as a "free service." They are free but...c'mon...

Edit: ew...you need "" around the name.

I personally don't know what my life would be like without Google. I find myself all the time wishing I had a computer on hand so I could Google something I just read, heard, or saw. I've become so dependent on the ability to see something being talked about and being able to Google it, that I can't see myself making due without it.

Note that the bandwidth does not actually go to the company; rather, priority is given to the consumer who is visting that company's website.

Just a thought, but if this were to happen. Would google not just locate there network in a different country in which this law wouldn't apply?

I doubt google would just collapse.

Signed.

[quote author=FrOzeN link=topic=14918.msg151783#msg151783 date=1146543727]
Just a thought, but if this were to happen. Would google not just locate there network in a different country in which this law wouldn't apply?[/quote]The big communication companies still control what content gets to your computer from the internet. Don't think they won't just lock out or artifically degrade the quality of hosting companies who aren't playing by the rules.

Interesting, sounds cool, I like free business though

[quote author=FrOzeN link=topic=14918.msg151783#msg151783 date=1146543727]
Just a thought, but if this were to happen. Would google not just locate there network in a different country in which this law wouldn't apply?

I doubt google would just collapse.
[/quote]
Yes, and all of us will relocate with it...

Nvm my comment, I misread it.

This is the DUMBEST, most ECONOMICALLY HEAD-IN-ASSED idea I've heard in a long time.

Agreed.

Would you like to do something about it?

The petition means nothing. Signatures only count if the people that sign it are a legal adult (18 years old). I don't know what this online petition would accomplish except showing what internet users think which I am sure they don't care all too much due to rational self-interest.