George Bardissi

What you are about to read involves the merger of Google and Verizon to fight off and change the FCC's attempts to invoke Net Neutrality. This proposed merger is not only huge, but could and will have very drastic implications in the realm of accessing the World Wide Web and your pocket book.

So, just to refresh your memory on the issue of Net Neutrality, here's the short story. The story of Net Neutrality started when Comcast got smacked down by the FCC for unfair network practices. Since then, the story has changed quite a bit and now there is Google and Verizon who have formed an alliance to create their own rules on how the internet should and will work from their perspective. This is very bad news for everyone that uses the internet and the federal government is now trying to figure out what to do before this pact changes the internet for the worse.

What exactly are Google and Verizon trying to do? Basically, they are trying to separate land line broadband internet from wireless (cellular) broadband internet and in so doing, keep the two from being forced to follow the same rules. They are also trying to allow new internet services to bypass net neutrality requirements and “beat the system”, by managing their networks to the degree that they will be able to have control over the choose of blocking or allowing whatever traffic or content they feel is acceptable.

The idea of net neutrality is that no one part of the internet, whether it be websites or prioritization of certain applications, will be treated differently from the other. For example, web sites could not pay to have their own traffic pushed ahead of others in line or internet providers could not force different types of connections, video, audio, downloading, file sharing, etc., ahead or behind of anything else. Google and Verizon have these concepts in their “pact” however this in their eyes only applies to the internet as it stands today and does not include any future internet services or expansion of the wireless/cellular data networks that we all use for data traffic on the road.

Many people believe that at some point wireless data traffic will supersede landline data traffic and therefore need to be held accountable to the same rules regardless. Also, by not addressing future expansion and changes to the internet which is guaranteed to happen, how will the consumer be affected if the provider has free reign to do whatever they want?

Another question comes into play when talking about this mess. How did the FCC and the Federal Government drop the ball? So, why was the government so late and short sighted in heading off the move that has now taken place with Google and Verizon? Well, the FCC did try to enact its net neutrality plan, but the consortium of internet providers, in the United States, took the FCC to court and the Federal Court System found that the FCC, under the current law, does not have the power to enact or enforce such a law. The court ruling has effectively forced the FCC to now have to lobby Congress in an attempt to get the power to enforce a net neutrality law and just like anything else, Congress will need to dissect the FCC's plan and then make a decision on it, which will probably end up being all politics and less responsible law making in the end.

Now we have received news that four Democratic congressmen had joined together to fight the Google, Verizon plan, which they felt would mark the “death of the net neutrality movement on the internet” or something close to it. Basically, if the government allows two communications companies to dictate how the internet will work moving forward then it will be a huge mistake and one that may not be reversible. Some of the points these congressmen, Ed Markey (D-MA), Mike Doyle (D-PA), Jay Inslee (D-WA), and Anna Eshoo (D-CA), are against are wireless network exclusion, the broad definition of managed services over the internet, and unclear terms of future services that the internet will provide down the road.

The interesting part of the whole thing is that Google and Verizon's competitors are taking a similar stance on the whole topic but they are not taking an active stance on the whole matter. Instead, they are letting Google and Verizon do the heavy lifting and will reap the benefits or damages that will be left in the aftermath. I am sure, that at some point, these competing companies will step in if they feel they might lose the battle. However, right now they are simply on the sidelines waiting for something to happen.

So again, what does this mean for you and me? Well, it could mean that the growth of the internet will be stunted for starters. It will also mean that if an internet provider doesn't like what you are doing on the internet you could get 2nd hand treatment forcing you to sit and wait for whatever you are doing, on the internet, to actually happen or load. It could also mean that rates for internet access may change drastically and therefore they may be more of a metered charge to the internet based on usage. This is a similar model AT&T wireless just made to their cell phone data plans.

The other thing that comes into play here is how the internet traffic will clash from the US and other countries. Right now this “net neutrality” situation is just taking place here in the good old USA. Once changes happen here will the rest of the internet carriers around the world stand for this being pushed down their throats without any input? That answer will most definitely be NO!

I cannot stress how important this topic is as the internet is for all extensive purposes a utility. If your pockets are hurting now over the power utility increases from power generation deregulation just wait and see what happens if this whole net neutrality thing doesn't get fixed!

It's getting closer to Christmas and many of your loved ones are going to want that new laptop or PC and Bardissi Enterprises can help you get the best equipment at very reasonable prices. So don't delay and give us a call today and get the PC or laptop in time to put under the tree.

Call us at 215 853-2266 and connect with our customer service department and they will help you get the system you want at the price you can afford, in time for Christmas!!

Bardissi Enterprises would like to extend our sincere thanks to our new customers who have contracted with us for the provision of managed information technology solutions and service. We are pleased to be providing IT Solutions for the following new companies:

• Department of Defense
  Laurel, MD
• Sagely Willow Message & Body Works
  Boynton Beach, FL
• CIA Health Screening
  Sellersville, PA
• Intertech
  Phoenix AZ
• Tip N Ring
  Olath, KS

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