commanderW - 2:49 am on Jul 27, 2006 (gmt 0)

- Hello people.
1st - My information is that the internet started at the department of defense , as a way to guarantee that communications could be maintained in the event of nuclear war, or other disruptions. Thus the information packet w/ it's self contained address, etc. It wasn't until the mid-90's that the internet was publicly known outside of universities etc. I don't know when this system became publicly available. But it's safe to presume & remember one crucial factor. The internet / arpanet, was bought & paid for by the american taxpayer. We paid for it, now we own it. it's that simple. just like the highway, it's a public thoroughfare. the service providers only supply access to this 'superhighway'. they do not maintain or control it. Now, we do ( My guess is that after the collapse of the soviet union, the DOD or somebody decided it was a waste to let such a great, & expensive piece of technology go to waste, but what do i know.).

2nd - Certain types of connection, like cable companies, often have local monopolies. If they are allowed to charge different entities for different 'uses' of the internet, then it's not just going to be Google paying. they can charge anyone anything they want, & they can flat-out refuse to 'carry' anyone they want. This is a serious threat to all of us. Then, who they can & can't shaft or censor will become subjects of regulation.

3rd - So, if the infrastructure needs upgrading, it has to be done in a rational way. putting ISPs in charge of what you can access & for how much is a bad idea. would you want phone companies to charge based on the type of conversation they were eavesdropping on?

4th - So, speaking as 'joe-6pack', i would rather pay higher taxes, or higher rates myself, to maintain the infrastructure of a free state & a free society ( or at least what's left of it.). There seems to be some consensus has come about that while the government can't censor us, that somehow corporations can. Doesn't anyone understand why we have the civilization we have anymore? I can't believe so many people everywhere are so willing to throw it all away for some darwinian business gobbledygook.