[LINK] Net neutrality and bandwidth caps.

[Kim Holburn]

Interesting view.  Not so relevant to Australia as such but it brings  
up the question, who does benefit from Australia's ridiculous capped  
internet connections?

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1052029/net-neutrality-bandwidth-caps-matter

> Net neutrality and bandwidth caps don't matter
> By Charlie Demerjian
> Tuesday, 5 May 2009, 19:52
>
> THERE HAS BEEN a lot of talk lately over usage quotas on cable  
> modems and how some are fair and others are not at all. The problem  
> that most people don't get is that the numbers have nothing to do  
> with the Internet, the entire argument is a diversion.
>
> Cable companies are throwing the idea of usage quotas out now,  
> starting absurdly low in order to get something in place. With  
> tactics that would make Karl Rove proud, they are picking a fight  
> over nothing to get their opponents to agree on a cap, any cap,  
> without realizing the true goals.
>
> The cable monopolies don't actually give a damn about how much data  
> goes over their wires. They don't care if you are surfing to the  
> local newspaper or sucking down leaks of awful Hollywood lowest  
> common denominator films, it is irrelevant to them. Bandwidth costs  
> are almost zero, and given how things are set up, there is no way a  
> single person or even a small number can max out the bandwidth of a  
> cable loop.
>
> DSL providers and other related bandwidth merchants, most with less  
> bandwidth per household have no problem with 'over usage', so why  
> does cable? The caps cable companies are trying to impose don't make  
> sense when you look at the technology involved and the bandwidths  
> available, bandwidth usage isn't an issue at all.
>
> If it isn't about bandwidth, then what are all these quotas about?  
> Keeping the cable TV monopoly a monopoly. No, really, it is. The set  
> up goes like this. Cable companies whine about bandwidth, then trial  
> all sorts of silly anti-consumer and illegal measures like DPI to  
> fire people up. Angry consumers respond and say that they will not  
> tolerate those measures. Eventually, even paid for politicians will  
> chime in around election season, and these 'alternate' measures will  
> be shot down. DPI and packet classification will be effectively  
> outlawed. That is OK though, they were straw men.

etc. etc.

-- 
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
Ph: +39 06 855 4294  M: +39 3494957443
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