Net neutrality

via Engadget

In a move that may pave the way for legislation forbidding phone and cable companies from charging content providers a premium for access to customers, the House Judiciary Committee today approved the net neutrality bill introduced by Committee Chair James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI).

That is a good news and should set an example for the world to follow - provide a neutral service.

Carriers should not be allowed to peek into any data packet and set performance difference based on who and whom the packages are sent and received. Priority as set by the sender or receiver should be respected - but not who and whom.

Anyone connected to the network, no matter whether he is the source or the sink of the data packet should enjoy the same speed of transfer within the carrier's network. Of course, there will be differences in the connection speed of the "last mile" as determined by pricing difference of plan or other factors. The idea is that a data packet is a data packet is a data packet. Every data packet should be transferred across the carrier's network at the same performance level.

In the news linked to by Engadget:

"The Committee - in a bipartisan fashion - understands that this legislation will provide an insurance policy for Internet users against being harmed by broadband network operators abusing their market power to discriminate against content and service providers. While I am not opposed to providers responsibly managing their networks and providing increased bandwidth to those consumers who wish to pay for it, I am opposed to providers giving faster, more efficient access to certain service providers at the expense of others. This legislation is a must for any telecommunications legislation because it will ensure that this type of discriminatory conduct will not take place, and will help to continue the tradition of innovation and competition that has defined the Internet," stated Chairman Sensenbrenner.