The End of the Internet?

[Krovvy]

The nation's largest telephone and cable companies are crafting an alarming set of strategies that would transform the free, open and nondiscriminatory Internet of today to a privately run and branded service that would charge a fee for virtually everything we do online.

Verizon, Comcast, Bell South and other communications giants are developing strategies that would track and store information on our every move in cyberspace in a vast data-collection and marketing system, the scope of which could rival the National Security Agency. According to white papers now being circulated in the cable, telephone and telecommunications industries, those with the deepest pockets--corporations, special-interest groups and major advertisers--would get preferred treatment. Content from these providers would have first priority on our computer and television screens, while information seen as undesirable, such as peer-to-peer communications, could be relegated to a slow lane or simply shut out.

Under the plans they are considering, all of us--from content providers to individual users--would pay more to surf online, stream videos or even send e-mail. Industry planners are mulling new subscription plans that would further limit the online experience, establishing "platinum," "gold" and "silver" levels of Internet access that would set limits on the number of downloads, media streams or even e-mail messages that could be sent or received.

The rest of the article can be found here.

Thoughts? I can't see this happening since this would cause much hell with internet based companies.

[Master.America]

Not only internat-based companies. Everyone would rebel. From neurosurgeons to McDonald's drive-thru operators, everyone uses the internet and everyone would be hugely affected.

Does this have anything to do with the "Internet 2" I've read about recently?

[x42bn6]

I'm afraid if they did that, they would be subject to full responsibility of the Internet. Which would involve the United States implementing a global law that these companies must follow. It won't happen. Put it simply, the Internet is key to future growth. Putting any cap on it is asking for an economical disaster.*