The vote tomorrow must make the internet a common service defined as telecommunications not limited to hard lines, but even wireless service providers. The companies that manage the internet in the United States have demonstrated no interest in upholding the founding values of the internet: openness and cooperation. Who can blame them when they have shareholders demanding more and more profits. The FCC must step in to remove these business decisions that are not in the interest of internet consumers. The cost of peering, content delivery and other important parts of managing the internet infrastructure are supposed to be covered by the service costs of each entity accessing the internet. Netflix pays for connections to the internet to their service providers and anyone who is paying an ISP to access the internet should expect that the cost of their service completely covers their share of the ISP's costs to deliver it to them.
I read today that a number of telecommunications companies are suggesting that the infrastructure of the internet would crumble if the FCC declares it telecommunications. The fact is, companies are always going to have to be dragged kicking and screaming for change. They always make accusations like that and they always seem to get along just fine when decisions are not in the favor of their interests. Companies always suggest that they are well-equipped to provide services because they can more easily adapt to changes in their business. This is a change we must make and they must adapt—or someone else will.
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My letter:
Dear FCC -
The vote tomorrow must make the internet a common service defined as telecommunications not limited to hard lines, but even wireless service providers. The companies that manage the internet in the United States have demonstrated no interest in upholding the founding values of the internet: openness and cooperation. Who can blame them when they have shareholders demanding more and more profits. The FCC must step in to remove these business decisions that are not in the interest of internet consumers. The cost of peering, content delivery and other important parts of managing the internet infrastructure are supposed to be covered by the service costs of each entity accessing the internet. Netflix pays for connections to the internet to their service providers and anyone who is paying an ISP to access the internet should expect that the cost of their service completely covers their share of the ISP's costs to deliver it to them.
I read today that a number of telecommunications companies are suggesting that the infrastructure of the internet would crumble if the FCC declares it telecommunications. The fact is, companies are always going to have to be dragged kicking and screaming for change. They always make accusations like that and they always seem to get along just fine when decisions are not in the favor of their interests. Companies always suggest that they are well-equipped to provide services because they can more easily adapt to changes in their business. This is a change we must make and they must adapt—or someone else will.
Best regards,
Jerrid Kimball