finalzero

STOP Virgin: Keep Virgin from destroying the Internet

I know this is computer related but it has far reaching implications. We already see the effects of a premium service on Sky where anyone who does not want to pay the rip off package prices (designed so you have to pick a set package containing **** you don't need).

For the average punter who doesn't pay for the premium service they don't get a trouble free service (I went from a subscribed viewer to a non-subscribed user and I regularly have random performance issues with my Sky viewing i.e channels lose their signal etc).

The effect of what Virgin CEO has said is massive, if it does go through (and there are many large corporations trying to slice and dice up the internet to turn it into the internet equivelant of Sky+ etc).

The worry is someone will use the Terrorism slogan to push this through the industry until it actually happens the internet gets segregated. It's bad enough we get a crippled broadband service but with this the average broadband subscriber will get well and truely shafted.

What will most likely happen is BT and others like Virgin will turn around and say "hey we will offer you 25mbit, 40mbit etc speeds but you must subscribe for this new service, if you don't we will cripple your broadband and you will not be able to access the mainstream internet".

Many business run off the internet, i.e the net neutrality gives people like me the ability to offer web design services, host customer sites and run my business through the currently un-metered internet however if Virgin have their way I will lose my business for refusing to essentailly pay a tax to use the internet (make no mistake, this is exactly what it is).

Food for thought..

SiDHEaD

Was much better as blueyonder. STM is bad enough!

RB5_245

Why don't you join the Film Actors Guild, they hate it when corporations are all "corporationy"



There's too much choice in internet for this to happen. If you don't like sky don't pay. The only reason they can get away with this is because people don't feel it's excessive. You have the power, not them.

Prasius

iTrader: (1)

While I agree that Net Neutrality is important, it seems to me that your mixing two different issues (unless I have misread).

Net neutrality, from what I understand, is about ISP's requesting payment from content providers to allow full speed access. That I think is wrong - the whole net should be the same speed.

However, what you seem to be complaining about is not paying for a service and then getting a worse quality of service than someone who actually pays for it. Umm... as someone who pays for a full speed virgin net connection I'd be a bit pissed if someone who wasn't had the same performance!

I thought people had learnt back in the days of free dial-up that there is no such thing as an internet-free-lunch. I certainly wouldn't touch the free Sky net package having seen what an **** connection some of my mates have! I want a good connection, so I'll accept that I'll have to pay for it.

MJW

I'd be more worried about the whole Phorm fiasco than this particular issue to be honest.

Tobisausage

it won't happen

Paul3446

I didn't lose any sleep over it last night!

LG John

I badly want to root the girl in the video!

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

probably best I don't watch this from work then

boxst

Well, only because they spend quite a lot of time not being very nice about Virgin (your employer...).

The girl is sadly fully clothed.

Steve

SJ_Skyline

Ditto, but the last ruling against BT ought to put a nice 6" nail into phorm. Either way, it can't legally be used unless there is opt in/out choice, as BT have found to their cost.