Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Net Neutrality: Save the Internet

This is topic Net Neutrality: Save the Internet in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Jennifer Pan (Member # 2035) on 06-08-2006, 08:51 PM:

I just found this out today, and whatever is going on with the internet is kind of scary for the little internet people out there. I'm also sorry if this goes against talking about politics.

From savetheinternet.com

quote:
Congress is pushing a law that would abandon the Internet's First Amendment -- a principle called Network Neutrality that prevents companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast from deciding which Web sites work best for you -- based on what site pays them the most. If the public doesn't speak up now, our elected officials will cave to a multi-million dollar lobbying campaign.

quote:
The SavetheInternet.com Coalition is a real grassroots alliance of organizations, citizens, businesses and bloggers that have banded together to protect Internet freedom.

The Coalition believes that the Internet is a crucial engine for economic growth and free speech. We are working together to urge Congress to preserve Network Neutrality, the First Amendment for the Internet that ensures that the Internet remains open to innovation and progress.

http://www.savetheinternet.com/

Posted by Michael Gonzalez (Member # 593) on 06-09-2006, 11:50 AM:

I have heard about this but I doubt an online petition or protest is going to effect much. I also doubt if the law is passed, that it would be found to be a violation of free speech protections. Hopefully this will sound more economical than political but let the free market work. The law gets passed, these companies start blocking content, customers get angry and will take their business to a competing company who will not block content. Protesting with your wallet is much more effective.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 06-09-2006, 12:20 PM:

The problem is what all the telecommunications companies are trying to do goes very much against the free market. With all the corporate consolidation that has happened, you won't have any alternative once the fat cats do start blocking content (or at least putting up nasty toll booths in front of content). Your only choice will be to do without.

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 06-09-2006, 04:17 PM:

Major users of the internet, such as E-Bay have been sending out e-mails alerting to contact their Congress represenatives.

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 06-09-2006, 04:52 PM:

There isn't much out there on the internet that gets me excited. If the internet went away tomorrow, I could still survive no different than I did back in 1995.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 06-10-2006, 03:10 PM:

The problem is many millions of people conduct business across the Internet. It isn't just an entertainment device for home users.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 06-10-2006, 05:37 PM:

That's for sure. My day job would feel like the stone age if we had to go netless. (Faxing orders in....yeesh!)

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 06-10-2006, 06:04 PM:

Link to the actual bill.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 06-10-2006, 06:25 PM:

I want to pass a law that outlaws the "legalese" language and requires that lawmakers and lawyers write in English!

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 06-10-2006, 06:33 PM:

Agreed.

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 06-10-2006, 07:02 PM:

quote: Bobby Henderson
The problem is many millions of people conduct business across the Internet. It isn't just an entertainment device for home users.

Yeah I know. In fact I've actually lost the opportunity to teach some great classes at the college where I'm employed simply because I didn't check my e-mail fast enough and they went to somebody else.

However, I'm very turned off by people who rely too much on the internet for their day-to-day living or business transactions. I still believe the best way to conduct business is still through a handshake and recognizable voice - not a cc mail. I think in the future we may find partnerships last longer if things were done in stone age style vs cyber age arrangement.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-10-2006, 08:11 PM:

But if we didn't have legaleze, then there would be no reason to pay attorneys such insane amounts of $$$!

Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 06-10-2006, 08:38 PM:

Political comment removed. Read the rules.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 06-10-2006, 10:01 PM:

quote: Aaron Mehocic
I still believe the best way to conduct business is still through a handshake and recognizable voice - not a cc mail. I think in the future we may find partnerships last longer if things were done in stone age style vs cyber age arrangement.

Most businesses still meet face to face with customers for important meetings and such.

However, if we got rid of the Internet and went back to the "stone age" it would literally spark an economic recession at the very least. The Internet helps make businesses a lot more efficent. You get more stuff done faster.

The sign company where I work sends sketches, contracts and other stuff via e-mail when possible, usually in Acrobat PDF. Some of this stuff runs back and forth and back again repeatedly as details get revised. With snail mail -even the FedEX variety- you're adding days (not to mention a substantial amount of cost) to getting issues handled. Faxes can be sent fairly quick. But they suck (low resolution, black and white, etc.).

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 06-10-2006, 11:33 PM:

quote:
But if we didn't have legaleze, then there would be no reason to pay attorneys such insane amounts of $$$!

Well shit. I want lawyers to have as much money as possible.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 06-11-2006, 01:27 AM:

Joe! Watch your language.

It's attorney.

Posted by Bruce Hansen (Member # 281) on 06-11-2006, 12:36 PM:

I think the point here is that if we let greedy corporations and big government decide what web sites we can use or not use (or at least use well) then freedom of speach becomes a thing of the past, and we become a communist country. With the current round of merger mania, and relaxing media ownerhip rules, we could end up with a very small number of ISPs, and if they all had the same anti-whatever thinking, you might not be able to get to certain types of web sites.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 06-12-2006, 09:01 AM:

The beauty of the Internet is that there are ways around just about everything. That was one of the fundamental elements that went into its design. So, I don't know how this will ever work on a large scale.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 06-12-2006, 12:13 PM:

quote: Aaron Mehocic
I still believe the best way to conduct business is still through a handshake and recognizable voice - not a cc mail.

Try living hundreds or thousands of miles away from most of your suppliers, you'll change your tune quick on that. If not for email and the internet, I'd probably still be working on our 2002 remodel.

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 06-13-2006, 10:56 AM:

Granted, but that is the cost of doing business where you are located. I'm not saying abandon the internet, but a phone call instead of an e-mail; or a business trip to discuss issues with suppliers instead of a fax. Point is this: You and your family were in business way before the advent of the internet. Keeping some of the pre-1995 practices in place goes a long way in staying recognizable in the Information Age.

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 06-13-2006, 03:50 PM:

Internet, both a gift and a curse [Razz]

Most of my sales have been closed either face to face or on the phone; generally less than a minute on the phone followed up with hours of e-mail for follow up...much of it redundant [Smile]

In one recent project entailing scores of e-mails which where positive over a year, the deal did not become reality until I did a couple of minutes of face to face with the client and staff [Cool]

It is efficient in that I travel less to do the same amount of work. My father and grandfather used to be gone 3 - 6 months on international sales trips when I was young...for me 2 - 3 weeks a year. Internet is a doorway that swings both ways, don't trip on the door theshold [Wink]