[LINK] The PLAN, and broadband speeds?

[Craig Sanders]

On Fri, Jun 22, 2007 at 05:08:29PM +0800, Adrian Chadd wrote:

> Its definitely doable with current tech, and it can happen alongside their
> traditional bandwidth charging models. Of course, you won't be able to run
> arbitrary multicast over that, as cool as it might be - it'll be used
> for the ISP to push sellable media content to you.

that was part of my point.  telcos (and, to a lesser extent, ISPs) are trying
to force the inherently peer-to-peer internet into a one-way service-provider
to consumer model.

they've been trying to do this since the internet started becoming
popular in the early to mid 90s, when they realised that it would
eventually spell the end of their monopoly (in terms of both control AND
pricing) over communications.

which is part of the reason for volume-charging and probably THE primary
reason for charging for upload as well as download, and the banning
of running servers on residential services - to prohibit (and/or make
prohibitively expensive) the creation and distribution of local,
user-created content which might compete with their cozy crapware deals
with old-media interests.

passive consumers are more profitable than active participants.



they will, of course, ultimately fail (the genie is out of the bottle)
- but that doesn't mean they have to be in any hurry to concede defeat.
the longer they can delay, the more monopoly rent they can extract.


craig

-- 
craig sanders <cas at taz.net.au>