We’re Due For Another White-washed Public Debate Over Net Neutrality

so, this is not news- that some large media companies want to offer tiered levels of access to the Internet based on varying bandwidth speeds and place limits on consumption.  tw/comcast is definitely opening the door to more net neutrality beef.

i advocate a free, affordable AND reliable net (not necessarily services offered by those on it), but i don’t know if that means it must be balanced by government intervention. there can be a place for it, but i am not sure where, if at all in this instance. tiered service has the power to widen the existing digital divide (and yes, it does exist in the u.s. and other so-called western nations). still, i wonder if the market has not already signaled its acceptance of tiered offerings in the space and if so, does it render the net neutrality debate moot?

i am sure google and friends are going to weigh in on the matter publicly- again. in case both sides seem to use language that makes it difficult for consumers to understand their distinctions, don’t fret. it seems intentional because i am not entirely certain either side would be complaining if they believed they would come out with a truly sustainable ompetitive advantage in the first place. remember how the u.s. took microsoft to court? remember who got the witch hunt started (and i am not necessarily a microsoft fan, being mostly an apple and open source consumer)? it is interesting how companies hate intervening government arms (or rather hands, according to economists) until others in the industry and/or market are not going along with their plans; in that case, government suddenly become the intervening hero. hmmm…. big wonder.