net-neutrality

John Oliver Explains Everything You Need to Know About Net Neutrality

Jay Hathaway · 06/02/14 09:32AM

Net neutrality sounds boring, but it's the only thing standing between us and an internet where cable companies dictate which content goes in the "fast lane" (their own) and which will be delivered very, very slowly (Netflix). On the latest Last Week Tonight, John Oliver broke down all the ways major cable companies intend to fuck you, the consumer.

House Votes Against Net Neutrality

Adrian Chen · 04/08/11 05:29PM

When the FCC approved its net neutrality rules earlier this year, it pissed off just about everyone. The House of Representatives were definitely not thrilled: A bill was passed today that would strike down the FCC's net neutrality rules.

Net Neutrality Passes, Immediately Pisses Everyone Off

Ryan Tate · 12/21/10 04:59PM

The Federal Communications Commission today approved rules discouraging internet access providers from charging websites for favorable treatment. That might sound like a good thing, but it's actually a terrible surrender to big business, or alternatively a communist plot.

Jon Stewart Addresses Google and Net Neutrality

Matt Toder · 08/17/10 10:24PM

On tonight's Daily Show, Jon Stewart addressed the Google-Verizon deal that may end net neutrality. After addressing the details, including a Google slam or two, Stewart got to the real heart of things: how will this affect surfing for porn?

The Internet Faces Frightening, Market Driven Future (But Shouldn't)

Andrew Belonsky · 08/31/09 04:27AM

Happy Birthday, Internet! This September marks the 40th anniversary of our virtual god, and, as happens with the marching of time, it faces some changes. The scope and impact of those potential changes remains to be seen, but they're scary!

Does Eric Schmidt hate show tunes?

Paul Boutin · 11/04/08 01:40PM

The FCC is having its own vote today, on whether or not to allow future wireless gadgets to operate in parts of the radio spectrum already in use by wireless microphones. Google is all for the new spectrum-sharing policy. Professional musicians and their audio engineers are dead set against it.In theory, smartphones will detect when a wireless mic is in use in the area, and not interfere with it. In practice, who are they kidding? New York City's Broadway League is campaigning to keep that part of the radio spectrum free for roughly 450 wireless microphones used in Manhattan's theater district. Out here, I'll be furious if Journey's next show at Shoreline is ruined when 853 Google employees check their mail during "Wheel in the Sky." (Photo by Getty Images/Justin Sullivan)

McCain bad for Internet, says Googler who invented Internet

Owen Thomas · 10/15/08 07:00PM

There are two acceptable political affiliations if you work at Google: Hyperlibertarian Paultard, or reflexively Democratic Obamamaniac. Vint Cerf, one of the guys who actually created the Internet back when it was a Pentagon-sponsored research project, and now works at Google as vice president in charge of being the guy who created the Internet, has put himself in the latter camp by officially endorsing Obama. Since Cerf is such a powerful voice, he might as well be speaking on behalf of Google itself. But the reason he's throwing Google in the Obama camp is painfully shallow and self-serving.It's all about net neutrality. What's "net neutrality"? As far as we can tell, it's a bunch of rhetoric that amounts to regulations that affirm Google's God-given right to avoid giving Internet service providers a cut of advertising revenues. An Obama presidency would mean Google can save money on lobbying fees. Well, times are tough, and every penny counts. It's good to know that even the saintly Vint Cerf votes on pocketbook issues. He's the father of the Internet, and he approved this message.

Bell Canada's file sharing throttling data shows mixed results

Jackson West · 06/26/08 04:00PM

Bell Canada, which was accused of throttling peer-to-peer file sharing traffic, was order to release details of their bandwidth management procedure by Canadian officials. Did it work? Kinda. Backbone congestion improved, but local loop backups — the kind that more directly affect users — actually got worst. Bell argued that even after spending $110 million in unplanned capital improvements to the network, 790,000 users would have had congested connections by 2009. Who was responsible for vetting those expenditures? Likely incoming Google CFO Patrick Pichette. [Ars Technica]

Evil Corporations Are Going to Take Away Your Internets

ian spiegelman · 06/14/08 03:30PM

Well, the Internet was fun while it lasted, but now three of the nation's largest service providers are going to shut it down and throw us all back to the dark ages of telephones and postage stamps. "Some people use the Internet simply to check e-mail and look up phone numbers. Others are online all day, downloading big video and music files. For years, both kinds of Web surfers have paid the same price for access. But now three of the country's largest Internet service providers are threatening to clamp down on their most active subscribers by placing monthly limits on their online activity."