Difference engine

Say hello to the Ubernet

Net neutrality is the least of the internet’s problems

Oct 20th 2014 | LOS ANGELES | Science and technology

THE decade-long debate in America over “net neutrality”—the assumption that all internet traffic, no matter its origin or purpose, should be treated equally—is inching towards some form of compromise. Internet service providers (ISPs) like Verizon, AT&T, Comcast and Time Warner Cable are adamant that the internet should remain free of regulations that would bar them from limiting or charging bandwidth-hogging users such as Netflix and YouTube. During the prime-time hours of 6pm to 10pm, these two popular websites for streaming video account for half of all internet traffic in America.

On the other side of the acrimonious debate, open-internet activists have bombarded the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with demands that the ISPs be prevented from doing anything that would erode the practice of treating all data packets travelling over the internet—whether for text, speech or video—the same for all comers. Without such provisions, they fear, two internets might emerge: a fast lane for content providers willing to pay for first-class service; and a slow lane for everyone else. They argue that, unable to afford the internet’s fast lanes, start ups and other innovators might not be able to compete effectively with established web giants—and that could hobble innovation.

There is a good deal of mythology associated with the internet. One mistaken impression is that net neutrality is a hallowed principle espoused by the internet’s founding fathers. That is definitely not the case. Indeed, Vint Cerf, the most famous of the internet’s original developers, recently told the Washington Post that neither he nor any of his colleagues at the time ever said all packets of data should be treated equally. Nor did they say that ISPs could not charge more for greater usage.

[…]

Continua qui: http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21626343-net-neutrality-least-internets-problems-say-hello-ubernet