Future of the Internet Highway Debated

[SOURCE: BusinessWeek, AUTHOR: Peter Svensson]
The Internet wasn't designed for video, voice calls and gaming, so telecommunications companies want to be able to provide "tiered service," guaranteeing that, for a price, some packets will get to their destination on time. They argue that making those who want or need better service is a better option than spreading the costs out to all Internet users. To the opponents, abandoning the "network neutrality" principle opens up the prospect of the carriers blocking sites that don't pay up or that compete with the carriers' own services -- for instance, by providing phone calls. Opponents say that even if toll roads leave the rest of the Internet unimpeded, it will stifle innovation. "It's very rational behavior in the industry. I would do the same thing if I was paid by my shareholders," Free Press' Ben Scott said. "But rational market behavior doesn't necessarily mean good public service."
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8G0F1800.htm?campaign_id=apn_tech_up&chan=tc

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