At 10:41 AM 3/2/2008, Seth Johnson wrote:
Despite the fact that Vint works for
them. I'd like to see someone explain how differentiation based on
"types" of applications would not end net neutrality.
I will explain this for you, and I will try to put it very simply.
Network Neutrality simply means that carriers do not discriminate
against content providers with which they compete.
It does not mean that they cannot manage their networks; throttle
or block abusive behavior, protocols, or software; prioritize
protocols which need near-isochronous bandwidth or are interactive;
charge different rates for different tiers of service; cache
content; or provide informative messages to their customers through
their browsers as they surf.
Those who have sought to include the above restrictions in the
definition of Network Neutrality are, IMHO, trying to exploit the
bandwagon for their own purposes -- ideological or financial. Vuze,
Inc., for example, has no high minded principles; it simply wants
to avoid paying for the bandwidth it uses.
--Brett Glass
[ Or to be more precise, that is the personal definition of
Network Neutrality promulgated by Mr. Brett Glass. In the
broader universe, the term Network Neutrality currently has
various other meanings and implications as well for many persons
involved in these issues, and I for one would never suggest
that my personal definition need be accepted by everyone else.
In fact, Brett is correct to the extent that when the term
first came into widespread use (around the time of the "Brand
X" case) carrier discrimination was the dominant issue. Since
then, the term has been widened in many circles to include a
much broader range of issues, and just as various other terms
morph over the years, many observers would suggest that the term
"network neutrality" has similarly changed to encompass much
more than it did initially.
But we should really be spending our time dealing with specific
issues, and not worrying so much about the names on the
pigeonholes.
-- Lauren Weinstein
NNSquad Moderator ]
