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Chalk one up for the little guys: US.

This week, the Senate is going to vote on a bill, the Internet Non-Discrimination Act of 2006, that would prohibit the Network M.Y.T.H (Mafia/Yakuza/Triad/Homies - Internet Providers and Carriers) from charging a premium to deliver 'popular' content (whatever it may be, depending on the whim of the Network M.Y.T.H), or creating a 'Tiered Internet' as the industry calls it. The bill is expected to pass.

This bill would essentially prevent any form of discrimination of bits traveling across the global network infrastructure we call the Internet. This means, for example, SBC cannot block internet users from reaching Google or degrade Google's performance, if the latter does not pay for those kinds of 'preferential treatment.' On the flip side, The Network M.Y.T.H. cannot position their affiliated Content Providers (e.g. YAHOO! to SBC) more favorably on the Internet than the competition.

Looking at the state of things, I am surprised that the telecommunication lobbyists are not 'up-in-arms,' at least it has not come to my attention.

I wrote a piece, "You want HOW MUCH for Broadband Access?", about a month ago lambasting the insatiable Network M.Y.T.H. But even more so, I wrote the story to rebuke 'on-and-off-again' blogger (mostly off) Jack Krupansky for having the CHUTZPAH to suggest to the Network M.Y.T.H an alternate strategy to increase profits. Shame on you, Jack, I hope they "Jack-Up" your subscription, as you so incline.


Whoa! Talking about Jack raised my blood pressure a notch or two.

It is true that certain bits that make up certain information (e.g. stock tip) are more valuable than others (e.g. Paris Hilton's "not-intended-for-public" video), but the contracts that the consumers signed with the Network M.Y.T.H contain NO PROVISION for such differential pricing (nor should there ever be). Now, the Network M.Y.T.H want to throw out those contracts and have a do-over? I say, "Tough Luck. A DEAL is A DEAL."

Furthermore, it does not make any sense to inspect every single bit that passes through the internet and assigning different price tag to it based on its content, i.e. video data = $X per gigabyte, voice data = $Y per gigabyte, text data = $Z per gigabyte. The Mobile Phone Industry has already demonstrated that an "All-you-can-eat-buffet" pricing strategy is the best.

And besides, the Network M.Y.T.H are in no danger of bankruptcy like the American Airline and Auto Industries. If anything at all, they are the only ones making money (protected by antiquated 'post-AT&T-breakup' legislations), year after year.

So, Network M.Y.T.H, now what? On the Internet, your bits and my bits are the same. The consumers have already paid for Broadband Access, with the terms and conditions defined by you. What else do you want?

Read: Senate bill would bar Internet premiums

	This article is by: YC (Guest Blogger) from the Technocrat Soapbox