Keep BladeForums Free

[gdog363]

Today, The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) unveiled their new plan to kick Net Neutrality, or the principle that Internet Service Providers must treat all data on the Internet the same by law. This happened in June, and it was stopped, but the FCC has come back twice as strong.

If the FCC wins and their plan to destroy Net Neutrality goes through, companies like AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon can privately slow down your connection on certain websites, block certain websites, or even charge monthly/yearly fees to access those websites.

Bladeforums.com is likely up there on the list. So, if you want to keep using and accessing BF as we have for the past 19 years, sign the petition below and call your congressmen saying that you support Net Neutrality.

https://www.change.org/p/save-net-neutrality-netneutrality

 

[GermanyChris]

They heard from 22 million Americans and all the tech giants and they're going to do just the opposite one more petition isn't going to change their minds.

 

[Gideons]

While I agree it should be stopped. From my understanding it doesn't give them power to ban people from accessing certain websites, they will just be throttled. This means there will be a tier system. for example ISP's often have investments in streaming services, so they will give you fast as internet as possible for the services they have investments in while slowing down other services. Essentially forcing customers to use their services or interests over the competition. Also if net neutrality is repealed companies will be regulated to state was services are being throttled, and I highly doubt this will affect bladeforums at all as it uses very little data so even if a company throttled the internet to it it wouldn't make a difference. If net neutrality gets removed internet will be removed from a tier 2 (essential utility like electricity) to a tier one. When it becomes a tier 1 utility, it will no longer be under the control of the FCC & it will be controlled by FTC. The head of FTC says it won't leave users unprotected - but americans will still be worse off, as the regulations on non-essential utilities strongly limit what the FTC can do. To summarize, contact your congressmen to make sure net neutrality isn't repealed, but this most won't affect bladeforums.

 

[Gideons]

They heard from 22 million Americans and all the tech giants and they're going to do just the opposite one more petition isn't going to change their minds.

That petition was to the head of the FCC who clearly is either ignorant or acting on behalf of the large ISP's since it will make them money, but either way he is an appointed official not elected. Your elected officials represent you, make sure your representatives know where you stand on the matter.

 

[gdog363]

A Hierarchy System, exactly. Websites such as, let's say, Wikipedia would be most likely the biggest "Untouchable" of all, along with stores and government sites. What I am trying to say is this: BF, inarguably, is more right-leaning on the political spectrum than many other forums and websites. So, in amidst of all this censorship going on with Google already, what would stop these huge left-leaning corporations from smothering us out?

Edited for grammar

 

[Gideons]

What censorship are you talking about with google? Are you talking about the removal of advertisements on youtube? Actually large websites are exactly what would be targeted, many ISP's would have investments in HBO Go, Hulu, or netflix. These are three of the largest streaming services, and different ISP's have large investments in different ones. So, the if you ISP had invested or had a contract with Netflix, it would be in there interest to give Netflix the best internet while throttling Hulu & HBO Go essentially creating a monopoly for their users. Wikipedia doesn't have any investors so no ISP would gain from throttling the website. Same with bladeforums, any ISP wouldn't make any money from throttling it as they have no financial incentive of investment to gain from it.

 

[evltcat]

Google has nothing to do with this as it is not an ISP. Also, what censorship are you talking about with google? Are you talking about the removal of advertisements on youtube? Actually large websites are exactly what would be targeted, many ISP's would have investments in HBO Go, Hulu, or netflix. These are three of the largest streaming services, and different ISP's have large investments in different ones. So, the if you ISP had invested or had a contract with Netflix, it would be in there interest to give Netflix the best internet while throttling Hulu & HBO Go essentially creating a monopoly for their users. Wikipedia doesn't have any investors so no ISP would gain from throttling the website. Same with bladeforums, any ISP wouldn't make any money from throttling it as they have no financial incentive of investment to gain from it.

Google IS an ISP in very limited areas, and they have been buying up a lot of dark fiber across the US.
They are adding service in large metropolitan areas. Their Webpass co-lab is only interested in "Urban Buildings with multiple units" so nothing for you single family home peeps.

The big ISP's are lobbying congress critters and they have more money than we do, and probably plan to charge us for "Packages" like they do for channels. Get ready for it.

 

[Gideons]

Google IS an ISP in very limited areas, and they have been buying up a lot of dark fiber across the US.
They are adding service in large metropolitan areas. Their Webpass co-lab is only interested in "Urban Buildings with multiple units" so nothing for you single family home peeps.

The big ISP's are lobbying congress critters and they have more money than we do, and probably plan to charge us for "Packages" like they do for channels. Get ready for it.

Yes, you're correct. However very limited also google has come out very strongly against the removal of net neutrality unlike many of the large companies that are primarily ISP's. So they are not pushing this or want this as it may cost them money if the ISP's throttle any of there many competitive services.