If it's not Neutral it's not Internet

IF IT'S NOT NEUTRAL IT'S NOT INTERNET
[SOURCE: Daniel Berninger, Tier1 Research]
[Commentary] The success of a proposal by AT&T and Verizon to end net neutrality does not threaten the Internet. The broadband customers of AT&T and Verizon will just no longer have access to the Internet. The development appropriately creates alarm among AT&T and Verizon's customers, but the combined customer bases of these companies represent less than 2% of the billion or so usersof the Internet. The fact access to the Internet requires net neutrality does not depend on laws passed by the US Congress or enforced by the FCC.Neutrality arises as a technical and business imperative facilitating the interconnection 250,000 independent networks that choose to participate in the Internet. Net neutrality will remain a requirement as long as it serves the interests of the global Internet community. The opposition to net neutrality arises like all regulatory debates as the means to raise prices, but people in the US already pay more for less bandwidth than citizens of Europe and Asia. Communication serves as an input to all economic activity, so expensive communications drags on the economy in the same way as high energy prices. Policy makers must decide between protecting the Bells 20th century business model or working to make sure US enjoys the benefits of the Internet. Internet traffic outside the US already dwarfs the traffic from within the US, and the failure of policymakers to defend net neutrality will only continue the trend of the US toward third world status in connectivity.
http://www.danielberninger.com/dbessays/2006/05/if-its-not-neutral-its-n...

* Information Highway Robbers
[SOURCE: InTheseTimes, AUTHOR: Joel Bleifuss]
[Commentary] What makes the Internet revolutionary is that it is democratic, open to anyone with a computer and an Internet connection. That could soon change.
http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2653/

* Why Network Neutrality Is Important for the Future of Disaster Communication
http://www.digitaldivide.net/blog/Taran/view?PostID=14026