US Court Strikes Down Net Neutrality: Prepare to Pay for Online Games - News

Christmas came 345 days early for Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, and their US internet service provider bretheren. Today a United States Federal Appeals court ruled that the FCC does not have the right to regulate the way in which ISPs provide access to the internet. I'll spare you the complex details, but the cliffnotes are that it's not completely legal for service providers to throttle or even block access to parts of the internet they don't want you to use. For example, Comcast could disable Netflix access so that you are forced to use their TV and streaming services.

[Eonjay]

Basically it means that Comcast and Verizon can now charge you extra for using streaming services or for access to certain feature like gaming access, NetFlix and can now block you from sites they don't want you to visit.

Net Neutrality prevented them from charging you for using your service to go to sites like Netflix. Now, if you wont pay for their services, you will have to pay extra for streaming. If you are a gamer, you can now be charged extra for accessing Xbox Live or PSN.

[cyguration]

Thanks for explaining it so clearly.

Bubs+

[thorstein]

In a statement Tuesday, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler indicated he was considering an appeal to the decision.

"We will consider all available options, including those for appeal," Wheeler said, "to ensure that these networks on which the Internet depends continue to provide a free and open platform for innovation and expression, and operate in the interest of all Americans." -FCC

"Judge David Tatel, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia found that the network neutrality rules contradicted a previous FCC decision that put broadband companies beyond its regulatory reach." -Washington Post

EDIT: My previous post was in error and I amended it.

[Eonjay]

@thorstein
Being able to charge higher rates to get access to streaming sites or gaming sites is the same thing as blocking access. The point is the Netflix offers access to content and the ISP will charge you extra for it.

edit: okay gotcha thanks for the update.

[NukaCola]

This is horsecrap. We pay to lease an IP address, not port numbers.

[JBSleek]

Thank you for commenting on N4G! That’ll be $.50, unless you’d like to upgrade to our “Commenters+ Package” for all of your blog commenting needs!

[shuuwai]

In other NEWS VPN went up by 75%.

It'll be lame if they block my vpn. lol.

I hope this idea is drop, i don't want this idea creeping into Canada or anywhere around the world.

[webeblazing]

So your saying they could charge you to access mp which we we already have to pay now. So that's internet + plus extra charge + psn and xblive to play a $60 game. And if we Dont the $60 game worth less than it already is. If the happen gamers gonna be paying 3 subscription prices lol. I like I said before this only the beginning but gamers like getting pushed over by big businesses. Most likely they saw how much people are paying for services which Dont do much. Streaming is the only service that actually give contain. But most likely they're mainly because their on demand sucks and they Dont want to match the value.

Hope this BS Dont happen but if they do what's gonna stop them. There's only one cable company to choose from in each county most sometimes even half the state. Time warner constantly over charge for poor service and you can't even do anything about it because it not another IP in the area. They get real cocky when they know this.

[thorstein]

Well. Verizon already sells a tiered system of speeds. If you have FiOS in your area you can see that they have 3-4 different "tiers." Each with a different speed. I have the fastest since I game alot.

I do have a different router once I got the upgrade. But, I don't think they can charge more, there will be more options.

[SilentNegotiator]

Federal Appeals court judges make stupid mistakes all of the time. It won't stand in higher courts. Not personally worried.

[AliTheSnake1]

NOW is the time for these Hackers to hit and make a statement.

Edit: Petitions already started
http://cms.fightforthefutur...

[Skip_Bayless]

lol so how much is it to torrent, watch porn, and pirate??

[GarrusVakarian]

Wow.

The greed of men knows no boundaries, why isn't enough ever enough for these money hungry suits?. This is complete BS, i hope this never passes in the UK, i would rather cut off my internet and game exclusively on singleplayer for the entire gen than pay unnecessary extras to these greedy,corrupt companies.

I'm not even American and signed the petition with both of my emails. **** these greedy a-holes. Here's the petition link, everyone needs to sign this! http://act.freepress.net/si...

[user5575708]

so basically now the cable companies can bone us even more then they already do

[Consoldtobots]

this is just like when that idiot Clinton deregulated the housing loan industry and the banksters went crazy giving out loans...we all know how that turned out.

for those that miss the point, this will enable uncontrolled greed to basically crash the internet business model.

[UnwanteDreamz]

@Consold

You think Clinton caused the housing crisis?

Here young man some real reasons

The Federal Reserve, which slashed interest rates after the dot-com bubble burst, making credit cheap.
Home buyers, who took advantage of easy credit to bid up the prices of homes excessively.
Congress, which continues to support a mortgage tax deduction that gives consumers a tax incentive to buy more expensive houses.
Real estate agents, most of whom work for the sellers rather than the buyers and who earned higher commissions from selling more expensive homes.
The Clinton administration, which pushed for less stringent credit and downpayment requirements for working- and middle-class families.
Mortgage brokers, who offered less-credit-worthy home buyers subprime, adjustable rate loans with low initial payments, but exploding interest rates.
Former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, who in 2004, near the peak of the housing bubble, encouraged Americans to take out adjustable rate mortgages.
Wall Street firms, who paid too little attention to the quality of the risky loans that they bundled into Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), and issued bonds using those securities as collateral.
The Bush administration, which failed to provide needed government oversight of the increasingly dicey mortgage-backed securities market.
An obscure accounting rule called mark-to-market, which can have the paradoxical result of making assets be worth less on paper than they are in reality during times of panic.

Democrates and Republicans caused it.

My point is it's never as simple as people tell themselves. This isn't just about greed people. This could potentially have far worse consequences than a high internet bill. The decision will be overturned on appeal.

[Bigpappy]

This is just one judge though, so this is phase one. There are higher courts who can toss this to the high heavens... or approve it.

This could kill the internet in the U.S as we know it. If could make me cancel my internet service.

[clonerz]

I've had enough with big f'n business. I hope we as consumers do not allow these companies to dictate how much of our Internet we use per month or risk paying more for it other countries are laughing at us Americans we are such fools. You do know what they say a fool and his money will soon part ways

[thecastroregime]

Unfortunately, the only other higher court that could hear this case is the United States Supreme Court, and the cases they select to hear are extremely limited (unless there are other, more niche, specialized courts with the requisite jurisdiction that could hear this sort of case, but I don't believe that likely).I'm not saying it's impossible that the USSC won't hear it, but it's gotta prove itself in the eyes of the public and business to be an important case worth hearing if we have any hope of the court lending its ear. I wouldn't count on this case going much higher up unless we get a huge reaction-backlash on the decision.

[JohnnyTower]

Once you set precedence, it becomes easier for the next case to run the same course. If you can show proof of a previous verdict for similar circumstances, it adds to the evidence of your case. One judge that may be, but they opened the door for others.

[Conzul]

Looks like we'll all be using MeshNet in a few years.

Fine with me. Screw Comcast.

[Omegasyde]

Bigpappy - Finally we are on the same page.

If anything ISP will now start selling tiered plans.

good service < Better service < Unlimited.

It will no longer be about speed that seperates plans. For certain area's in the US, there is only one broadband provider meaning if you don't like their rules, you are #%@#% out of luck.

This reminds me how ATT, Verizon, and Sprint phased out "unlimited plans" and enforced EULA's that prevent users from using video/voice and/or streaming services to circumvent using talk minutes.

If my bandwidth get's capped(or a is forcefully metered), I guess I will be playing single player only games.

[ELpork]

Obama came out and said that this is something he's against. Granted he's on the way out, so be careful who you vote for next.

As long as people keep voicing their concerns, this will keep getting tossed out.

[Ittoryu]

@Omegasyde

sprint still has unlimited. It's the other cell companies.

[weekev15]

If ISPs actually start doing this, someone needs to be opportunistic and become a reselling provider with no restrictions or add ons. I imagine every gamer would immediately move all services to them.

[AndrewLB]

What the heck are you guys smoking? Right now we're living under the free-market run internet where the FCC and Obama have ZERO control. It has ALWAYS been this way. Now you guys are going to believe these liars in Washington who want more control over your lives while lying to your face, claiming that without net neutrality you'll all get robbed by big business and butt-raped.

The reason why the internet has been as great as it's been is because the government HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. These "consumer advocacy groups" are nothing more than left wing front groups who want a government takeover of the internet through SOPA, PIPA, and ACTA so they can tax every single email and byte of data sent/received. AND so they can sensor content, speech, and liberty.

Remember how Obama promised everyone if they like their doctor they can keep him? Or Keep their health care plan? Remember the lies? These communists live by the mantra "the ends justify the means" and will say and do anything to grow government, authoritarian rule, and to make everyone beholden to the government.

Why do you think the education system in the US is failing? If the democrats know best, why isn't it the model of success? It's because It's supposed to fail and that's what keeps them in power. As long as the population is uninformed, uneducated, and dependent on the government for hand-outs, the lies and propoganda will continue to work and the democrats will keep winning elections.

Proof? Just look at how much better the education system, economy, and crime are in cities, towns, and states run by conservatives. Now look at Detroit, Philly, Los Angeles, Chicago, DC, and every place where the left has run the show since the 1960's.

Case closed.

[Sci0n]

If this happens I am canceling my internet and my phone threw Comcast and will only game offline

[dantesparda]

Wow AndrewLB, what a conspiratorial rightwing clown you are. "Communists"? then by that standard you are nothing more than fascist. Its funny cuz if you knew anything, you would realize that these "ran by Democrats" states are all far richer than the Republican ran states. And the people make more money there and the education systems are better in them also and crime is down from the 70's, 80's and 90's. Those are the numbers, those are the facts, not some garbaged spewed out by some foaming at the mouth rightwings clowns (like you). You sit there and talk crap about Obama's "lies" like they compare to the Bush's lies that got us into 2 wars that have cost this country how much blood and treasure? Get out of here with all this wingnut crap. And the same liberal groups that want to protect net neutrality really just wanna tax us and control us?! You're a f-ing nut! Its funny how the the pro-republican companies (Comcast, Verizon, AT&T) are the ones trying to do this to us. Not the "liberals" now take off your tin hat and stop spewing all that stupid sh!t you are

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Yeah Dante, it was the Democrat controlled Senate who agreed with the wars. And these are not pro-republican companies, heck Obama regularly golfs with the CEO of Comcast. Liberalism is a mental disease thanks for proving it.

[dantesparda]

@ Crab

The only disease here is your way of thinking, The Democrat senate? wow! it was a republican majority ran senate and house kid, get your facts right. Rightwing conservatism, its a mental disease, thanks for proving it.

And Comcast is not a super pro conservative company? You're crazy kid! And aint it funny how Republicans are all for this yet its the Democrats that are for this right? You people are delusional

[UnwanteDreamz]

@AndrewLB

Spoken like a true sockpuppet. If you think for 1 second that the Republican party is any less responsible for the nations problems, then you are deluded. You buy that 2 party song and dance? How cute...

Last I checked after 8 years in the highest office neither party left the country better than they found it. You have been brainwashed.

[Oh_Yeah]

Can't wait till google rolls out google fiber across the whole USA and puts these companies on the brink of closure, and then they have no other choice but to lower their service cost to a few dollars a month because they can't keep up with the immaculate speed and value that is google fiber.

[Blaze929]

they never planned nor are they going to roll Google Fiber across the whole USA. They dont even want to be an ISP - its simply to make real ISPs "get on their shit" from Google's competition.

[Bigpappy]

Google could get greedy too. I believe a democratic Government (by the people for the people) has a roll in keeping the internet accessible to all. The internet is like the highway system, it must remain accessible and access should not be dictated by profit. I am not always for Government control, but things like general access to roads and the internet, should not be managed by profit hungry Corp's, or the economy would collapse.

So in this case, I side with the FCC over Verizon.

[AndrewLB]

Good! Competition means these companies will have to compete to stay in business. That's a free-market mentality which is what works!

Net Neutrality, SOPA, PIPA, and ACTA are ALL anti-free-market government takeover bills that want to destroy the private-sector run internet that we've all used most of our lives. Net Neutrality is the cause of every single bad thing these "consumer advocate ake government advocate" groups claim it's going to prevent.

We've had decades of the internet WITHOUT the government's hands on things and it's worked out quite well. Our health care system was the same way... until Obamacare f**ked it all up by putting the government in charge of your plan, it's price, and who lives and dies.

just wait till you low information voters get duped into handing the internet control to the government. You think the DMV sucks? Ha!

Open up your eyes people. They're lying to you and you're buying into it. Net Neutrality is something they're only now trying to force upon the internet. If all these scare tactics were true, why weren't all these "consequences for not having net neutrality" already happening?

[millerj2740]

I'll start by saying I don't know the first thing about how ISP's and their regulations work. My whole understanding boils down to:
Step 1. Plug it in
Step 2. ...
Step 3. Profit

That being said, would it be possible for Sony/Microsoft to become their own cable/isp's? They're both already moving in that direction with live TV, right?

[fiveby9]

@Bigpappy Bear in mind many highway systems are toll roads or enforce commuter lanes. They are all not free open access. I don't have a problem with the internet being managed by profit hungry companies. Sure oversight and some regulation is appropriate. However I do think healthy competition by 'profit hungry' companies can spur innovation. Way back when, there was Ma Bell. That was it and long distance fees were expensive. Today with deregulation domestic long distance is essentially a flat rate. We need to seek a balance here which must always be reviewed to keep pace with technology and changing needs. That being said, I am a proponent of net neutrality with regards to not shaping traffic just to enhance profit. But I am also wary of government excessive meddling. Be very careful about giving too much power to government as despite intentions it can often become more control than you envisioned.

[Sci0n]

google fiber will go the same rout as these other companies if big brother imposes there will on all the companies and present a option to the businesses with greed that nobody can refuse.

[UnwanteDreamz]

If it wasn't for Karl Rove and his redistricting plans Republicans would be irrelevant. I give you dinosaurs 10 more years tops before you lose it all. The country is moving past your fear mongering B.S. Change or be left in the past.

[showtimefolks]

damn i hope this decision gets reversed, i am already paying $70

[nope111]

$80 here, and my connection is garbage.

[Bigpappy]

OK. I read a bit more on this from the Reuters news website. This is actually case #2 (the appeals court. Next step the Supreme Court or Congress. These paragraphs stand out:

"The ruling is a victory for Verizon and other broadband providers, who saw the FCC rules as government overreach into how they operate their networks. The largest providers on Tuesday pledged that they would not restrict how customers use the web, but consumer advocacy groups said they worried that providers may begin charging content companies such as Netflix, Facebook or ESPN for faster Internet speeds."

"Democratic leaders in Congress on Tuesday urged the FCC to take advantage of the oversight power the court did recognize over broadband and offered support in rewriting the rules. Republicans urged the FCC to stay hands-off."

Looks like Internet providers want to go after companies to try and shake them down for some of that profit. Seems like the Republican are cool with that, and the democrats are with the FCC deciding the way forward (status quo).

I think the co-operations will work around this, and the customers will be nickel and dimed by these ISP's who are compelled to make higher and higher profits every year.

[Eonjay]

"Democratic leaders in Congress on Tuesday urged the FCC to take advantage of the oversight power the court did recognize over broadband and offered support in rewriting the rules. Republicans urged the FCC to stay hands-off."

Well fuck the Republicans then. They make it so easy. No offense to any conservatives but this isn't okay. You are right. These corporations only objective is to find new ways to charge us for everything.

[Tru_Ray]

@ Eonjay. Agreed. F##ck the Republicans. To them, the poor are invisible, everyone has the opportunity to get rich in America, and religious dogma triumphs over logical discourse. In reality, not everyone has the opportunity to become a millionaire, the wealth disparity in America is growing exponentially, and religion is a superstition.

I already pay COX about $180 dollars a month for phone, internet, and cable. How much more flipping money do they need?

/end off topic rant

Tru_

[oof46]

Damn Republicans.

[oof46]

Damn Republicans. To hell with the lobbyists.

[Sci0n]

if we get Romney or any other rich republican in office who is more so for the rich then anyone else we will get screwed real hard on this matter. The rich and elites won't care about spending more and we who care will all be forced to roll with the punches or cancel our services. This is some scary stuff that greed is flowing over into ISP world when our gaming these days revolve so much around the internet.

[extermin8or]

Wow... and from the perspective of someone in the UK they rip quite alot of you guys off with what they charge per month as it is :s The inventor of the internet must be very depressed by the way corperations are trying very hard to monetise every aspect of the internet for their own gain and greed. Considering he gave it to the public and buisnesses to use for free... wonder if he ever regrets that decision if for no other reason but to have maintained control and made it easier for people to afford access not harder...

Also this is a dodgy decision many of the large companies will actually be behind FCC on this I think. It's in companies like Apple, Google, Sony and Microsofts interest that they cannot block your access or charge you more as many of their services would receive a lot less subscriptions/users if this were the case.

[Omegasyde]

The reason its a monolopy is because the cable companies actually invest into the infrastructure (be it copper or fiber).

This means the cable companies "segregate" parts of cities. DSL is more lenient but not as reliable (depending on how far the Telco central office/sub-station is).

Sadly WiMAX is taking too long to build...

[weekev15]

@ omegaside its the same in the uk. BT pretty much cover the uk in cables but OFCOM (our regulator) have said keeping this to themselves gives BT an unfair advantage and has forced BT to split into 3 companies. Now we have BT openreach who maintain the lines, BT Wholesale who look after the exchanges and sell the internet to all providers which also includes BT Retaik.

I think its a really good way to go and we are seeing BB costs come down as a result of the competition and In my experience the service is also getting better.

[extermin8or]

@Weekev yes plus we have companies that have alot of their own lines aswell as being able to get usage on BT's in the form of virgin media and Sky. Plus BT have been moving into TVO boxes and services themselves or have agreements with the companies that do that and something like iplayer is funded by tax but would suffer from any charges for streaming-it was discussed in parliament about a year ago but decided to be impractical and unfair on consumers and companies relying on streaming to make them money. Thus was rejected.However they do try and block certain sites like torrents etc (although their are smple circumventions to get onto torrents...)

[ITPython]

Companies like Comcast should realize that if they start limiting peoples internet and charging for things like Netflix, or even Youtube, it would be a death sentence for them. And it seems really unlikely it will happen anytime soon.

Also people seem to forget about capitalism. If you don't like Comcast charging extra for Netflix (or whatever), then choose another provider who will!

Nobody is forcing you to pay Comcast (or any other ISP) a dime if you don't want to. And if they are the only game in town, then it is your responsibility as a consumer to decide whether or not you want to keep giving them your business. Simple as that. But most people nowadays don't want to suffer the inconvenience, so they keep getting crapped on by these companies who know they can push you around.

Stop trying to push this responsibility to the government, which has no business dictating to companies what services they can and cannot offer. Get off your lazy asses and stop paying for services you do not want rather than trying to get the government to force companies to change for you.

[DeadMansHand]

I don't know where you live but in my city is comcast or nothing. I could go with satellite but their speeds are horrible. This sucks.

[Bigpappy]

I am all for capitalism, but it is not a perfect system, and we can not go back to the wild, wild west where only the strongest survive. We have evolved and realized that we need some rules and some stability to encourage fair competition. Right now competition is very limited in most cities in the U.S. So Comcast, Time Warner, Verizon, AT&T ... all have customers in a bad place.

Customers are edited the always connected life style, but setting prices to high could wean them of quickly.

I see this as a move for the cable providers to now go after the Facebook, Netflix and Google of the world like they have done with broadcast TV who need the cable feed to survive.

[Veni Vidi Vici]

Please tell me where the hell capitalism is in all this? It's a monopoly and everyone knows it. You sound like the judge that was paid off. "If you don't like it just choose another provider". Really? Most people only have ONE choice and if you're lucky enough to have other choices, it's usually only one and they don't offer anything better. And then to say that if you don't have any choice it's the consumer's responsibility to decided if they want to keep paying for it? Are you F'in serious? The internet has become more than just some luxury. In most cases, it's become a necessity for school and jobs. You HAVE to have a connection. I really want to go on but I'm worried I might get banned for what I really want to say. It's your kind of thinking that is allowing corporations to ruin this country.

[ITPython]

Here's the thing folks, capitalism does work because the consumers ultimately decide what they like and do not like, which changes how companies operate and do their business. If that company keeps receiving your money, they assume you like the service. If you cancel on them, then they assume you don't like the service. Comcast may come out and say "Sorry people, you now have to pay extra to use Netflix". But then shortly thereafter Verizon comes out and says "Hey people, we are not charging any extra to use Netflix, come over to us!". This results in Comcast possibly losing tons of business, and Verizon cleaning up. All in the name of capitalism and competing businesses.

Think the provider in your area has a monopoly? Don't like that? Then stop paying them money to screw you over! If everybody stopped paying those crooks then they would go out of business or their profits would be hurting which would force them to change their ways, it's really as simple as that.

As an example look at Netflix, remember when they tried to split their streaming and DVD rental services? People started cancelling their Netflix service in huge numbers, which forced Netflix to re-think their business plan. Same goes for what MS tried to pull off with the XB1. The people stood up and spoke out about it with the threat of not giving MS their business, and look what happened... MS turned a 180 and completely changed their tune. Did it require government intervention with more regulations on MS of Netflix? Nope. That was pure capitalism at work. And Netflix didn't even have any competing companies either (at least for DVD by mail), they just didn't like the loss of customers.

The problem in today's society is people don't want to give up, or change, their precious cable TV or internet service to make a stand, they don't want the inconvenience. They think "Oh no, I cannot live without my 200 MB internet speeds, and going to a 50 MB connection speed with another provider is completely out of the question!" So things never change and companies gain more and more control over you.

Bottom line is you DO have a choice, and to keep paying these companies month by month, even though you hate them and their service, is completely against the whole concept of a free-market.

People these days need to learn how to make sacrifices instead of crying to the government to fix everything for them because they are unwilling to make a stand on their own and possibly have a few inconveniences in their lives. The entitlement culture we have created here in the US is mind-boggling.

[ExPresident]

@ITPython

Dude, have a bubble. Best comment I've read on this site in awhile. Someone still has common sense.

[Many-hat5]

I'm not an American, just a distant cousin, but I do think you are quite naïve if you think all of these companies are truly independent and competitive. Sure, on the surface they have to appear so, but really they are just giant cartels. They talk to each other constantly -behind closed doors, and agree what they should do. Do you really think any one of these companies would be brave enough to 'go it alone' ? The very reason why you don't often find many companies in the same area is because they agree not to encroach on each other - at least in areas where competition may hurt them. In the UK, we have the exact same problem with energy companies. Of course, you can switch to another provider and you may save money in the short term, but I can guarantee you that ALL the energy companies agree between them their pricing strategies. The banks and energy companies in the UK have been fined several times for exactly this behaviour, but the regulatory services are weak and the fines relatively low, so it continues.

[jimbobwahey]

Wow, that judge must have received a really nice chunk of cash for this.

[Letthewookiewin]

This is a great article explaining the whole thin on top of what Eonjay had said. It's not all doom and gloom people.

http://www.techdirt.com/art...

[Veni Vidi Vici]

Nothing in that article made me feel better about this situation. In fact, it made it worse by saying they'd be surprised if the USSC overturned it. Tell me how the FCC will be able to wrangle the ISP's "without overstepping their bounds" and then I might feel a little better but I don't think anyone will explain how that's possible because I don't think the FCC will be able to do it.

[hazardman]

People need to stop worrying to much about this. It makes no sense for all isps to charge more. There will always be a company who is smart and stay neutral because they know consumers will look for the isp who doesnt over charge or restricts your usage.

[kneon]

None of these worst case scenarios that people are freaking out about are likely to occur for the reasons you stated.

But ISPs need to make money, they aren't charities. If they start losing money because of competition from over the top services like NetFlix then they will have to increase revenues somehow. Usage caps and tiered pricing are the most sensible and fairest way to go.

[Eonjay]

@kneon

Comcast is headquartered in my city. The Comcast CEO here is also the highest paid man in my city. How can he lose money when he is already making more then everyone here? Its greed. Hopefully the FCC steps in and maybe the people who we higher to protect us can go ahead and protect us.

[indyman7777]

Another thing that can develop with the tier pricing is. You can go anywhere for the top level, and you can only go to certain places, and use certain services for lower level tiers. They can decide who can afford to have freedom.

[PSjesus]

GOOGLE fiber cost extra with streaming TV service(the normal 70$per month with TV plan 120$).....that's mean 4K tvs aren't the future

[fatstarr]

when one builds a wall, someone builds a ladder to get over it.

greed will be the downfall.

[ssj27]

If they dare to abuse us like that. I will hack my internet or "barrow" it for free. I have done it before.

Prepare to dobthe same don't allow this kind of control.

[xxShadow-Shockxx]

Thats Rediculous!

[yeahokchief]

This is a sad day for chicken tonight.

NO CHICKEN TONIGHT

I'm not to worried about this though. If they ever try to charge me for something too ridiculous then I just won't use it. Their greed will be their own downfall in the end. Just go with the flow. If they fuck up the internets some new medium will arise to take its place.

What if this was just a step to ruin the internet to strengthen the growth of whatever medium they have planned next. I think thats what you have to look out for. Who controls the next big thing. But in the meantime they'll be raking in some extra $$ off our internet use.

[Ps4Console]

Well I won't pay extra I pay enough now with the PSN , Netflix for me & my son & daughter & the XBlive I pay out for my Wife plus electric bills satellite ISP every month I can't afford anymore .

[AndrewLB]

Net Neutrality was nothing more than a smokescreen to hide the fact that it was a government takeover of another part of the private sector. The only reason why the internet is an open and largely unregulated marketplace of ideas is because government is not controlling it, censoring content, and levying taxes and fees for every email sent or byte recieved/sent.

This ruling is a big win for liberty and a slap in the face to everyone who thinks "big brother" should run every aspect of their lives. Ever try to get a small business loan these past 4 years? Hows that health insurance plan you've had and liked, but recently lost? Government is the reason why your small business cannot get a loan because of the government takeover of the banking industry through Dodd/Frank. Yes, banks still are privately owned, but the Government now controls everything they do. The same goes for the Obama-care system. They're destroying the best, most innovative, and respected health care system in the world and for what? So they can redistribute wealth, control who lives and dies, and make people even more reliant on the tit of mommy government as opposed to self reliance, personal responsibility, and liberty.

Anyone who supported net neutrality because of the lie that games will now all cost money to play online is nothing more than a low-information voter that blindly voted for this Socialist living in the white house because it "felt good" while chanting "hope and change" over and over. When will you realize you were sold a huge lie and the left wing progressives are only in power due to the ignorance of an uninformed electorate.

[kingdip90]

My thinking on the matter has nothing to do with politics.

Cell phone providers were given stricter control over their Internet service than regular ISP's were by the FCC and that turned into tiered Internet plans with various GB plans and choke points if you use so much data on "unlimited" Plans. If you have an unlimited 4G plan and use 50 gigs of data in a month you watch it quickly become a 1g or 2g speed Internet connection.

we have already seen business use the extra control over Internet use be anti consumer.

That's not being political, That's having my eyes open

[windblowsagain]

Land of the free eh?

[Gamer1982]

Thank god this is US only..

[kingdip90]

You say that like ISP's in other countries won't use this as a president and move to make the same changes in their homeland.

[cozomel]

Im not trying to be a dick, but its "precedence" not "president"

[SnakeCQC]

This is sooo incredibly corrupt the isps are not content creators so in what world does it make sense that they can charge you for this??!! If this happens in the uk I'm going to lose it.

[liquidhalos]

Disgusting, the american courts are an utter embarrassment. This reeks of corruption and payoffs. People should migrate to isps that werent pushing for this, let these greedy foul companies suffer where they care most. Investors

[SonyPS360]

Remember how this almost happened in Europe a couple of years ago, and everyone lost their minds about it?

It sucks to see that someone was dumb enough to allow it.

[r1sh12]

Exactly @Eonjay. How do companies in the US get away with this?

America - The home of the free LOOOL

[UnholyLight]

Welp, consider me a little happier that I live in Canada

[HeroReborn]

It's not all doom and gloom due to the judge stating in his descion that he understands the importance of neutrality, and that the FCC can pursue the means of wanting to keep this by inacting by other provisions made in the 90s. Although Verizon and others would love to do this the FCC will not let them get over with this. It's to much control given to providers they would be able to drive them out of business models they designed because they are the medium of which we get the content? That within itself is wrong on so many levels.

[ShadowReaper14]

Well this sucks. :(

[Godmars290]

There goes the internet. Nice knowing you guys...even you fanboy a-holes.

[Eonjay]

We can't let this happen. I'm am so upset right now. These assholes are trying to save their TV conglomerates by blocking Streaming services. THAT IS ALL THIS IS ABOUT!

[Godmars290]

You mean this:

http://act.freepress.net/si...

Nevermind that the lobbist for the cable companies have been pushing this forever.

[Eonjay]

See but the problem is that the FCC were the ones protecting Net Neutrality and they are the ones's that were fighting for us in court. They US district court sided with the Comcast and Verizon. Its the court system that screwed us over. I will sign it anyway though. Thanks man.

[cyguration]

It's kind of disheartening that the court sides with big business like this.

In my area Comcast already has a monopoly on the cable service and they've been ABUSING it like crazy (you have to pay up to $100 just for basic cable, otherwise you're paying $60 just to access their cable service but you don't get any actual cable stations).

Having these a-holes block and regulate access to what they want you to access unless you pay more is ridiculous.

[uptownsoul]

thats always going to be a problem so long as the TV conglomerates (nice apt phrase) also provide the ISP's. What would be nice is an ISP carrier that doesn't do TV and thus have no problem with streaming any and everything . But of course then, there's the bandwidth cap problem which i believe any and every ISP will try and take advantage of to make more money

[Game4life]

this just makes me think of that one south park episode with minecraft

utterly disgusted with cable companies. i mainly just stream stuff.

[raWfodog]

The only option for the FCC to keep the net 'free' would be to get broadband classified as a telecommunication service, like our phone service.

From the article http://news.cnet.com/8301-1...
Even though the court decision struck down the FCC's authority to impose the specific Net neutrality rules it adopted in 2011, it did not reach further in its decision. And the ruling did not strip the FCC of all its authority to regulate the Internet. Feld said the fact that the court agreed that the FCC had some authority will hopefully provide a window of opportunity to adopt different rules to protect an open Internet. It could also reopen discussions at the FCC regarding how and if broadband services should be reclassified.

"The court did uphold broad commission authority to regulate broadband," Feld said. "To exercise that authority, the FCC must craft open Internet protection that are not full-fledged common carrier rules. Alternatively, if the FCC needs broader authority it can classify broadband as a title 2 common carrier service. "

There's still hope left but you know lobbyists will be fighting over the politicians.

[thorstein]

@Rowf

Excellent. Thank you for providing far more details.

[HarryB]

Dont worry. Comcast and time warner and others wont let that happen. They said so for the past 7 years that they wouldnt act up and start charging people or throttle up the internet. There is just too much competition for people. The only way they can do something is if they all start regulating at the same time.

[MonkeyNinja]

@ HarryB
Please tell me that's sarcasm. If it is, then I completely agree. If not, then you are VERY mistaken. Both are KNOWN to throttle internet and overcharge you for crappy service.

If this doesn't stop, the internet will become censored. God help us all....

[dantesparda]

We are so screwed, expect to pay more for less. Expect throttling and tiers and straight up blocking. Dont expect faster speeds either or much advancements. I only hope people wont be stupid and support this sh!t, but i have little faith in that too.

And everyone should be filling out that pettiton GodMars linked to

[Double_O_Revan]

Agreed. This would be AWFUL!

[Z_-_D_-_3]

Forget signed documents - we need to fight these fuckers on the streets.

[Simco876]

Don't just rant on N4G, go to GODMARS290's link and take action!

[MONOLITHICIDE]

Or we could all cancel our subscriptions and really send them a message. Do you people think big business gives two shits about you signing some petition. Hell no. Now's the time to vote with your wallet as most of you say on here.

[Simco876]

The problem with that is how are you supposed to get internet at your house then? You can't just find a ISP that's free or has moral fibers!

We don't have any other options.

[Godmars290]

Since the issue is streaming and content from cable companies, the solution is for everyone - literally EVERYONE - to specifically stop using cable. Turn the slow lingering death the cable companies are facing because they refuse to change their business models into a quick clean kill.

Not that that's going to happen.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

I think a possible scenario is that services like Netflix go to ISP providers and make deals to allow the service to be excluded from bandwidth capping on their network.

[liquidhalos]

or stop going to work, shut the country down, show businesses that without us, they have nothing. end this crap now, call for revolution

[MxRBrobaFett]

Punch a baby in the face! Push grandma into traffic! Throw your cat into a wood chipper! REVOLUTION!

[XboxFun]

People still think bandwidth caps is going to stop Steam and Sony from moving forward with their digital plans?

These cable companies aren't stupid and they know people will pay to play. I wouldn't be surprised if these companies are working hand in hand.

[HarryB]

They are not allowed to work hand in hand.

[Master-H]

I like how you singled out Steam and Sony there...

[XboxFun]

The Steam machine more than likely will be a download only machine and Sony now has their PSNow service. What else is there??

If it makes you fanboys feel better I'll throw in MS eventual service...there...everyone happy now I named dropped MS??

Hell I'll even throw in a Nintendo for no extra charge!

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

Can't say that I'm surprised about that lol.

[dantesparda]

"Hell I'll even throw in a Nintendo for no extra charge!"

Lol, Does Nintendo even know what the internet is, heck they are so behind, that they are just now entering last gen and discovering these things we call "networks"

[liquidhalos]

Seriously, you pick a subject like this to start a fanboy war? Somehow i think we as gamers have bigger fish to fry, this could be one of those things sony, ms and ninty fans join together over

[Kryptix]

lol What?

http://i.imgur.com/j74SykU....

[MightyNoX]

Look at his 'name', then read his post again. Shouldn't be too hard to spot the agenda.

[Kryptix]

I know about his agenda and very biased outlook. Didn't Microsoft mention that they'll be heavily pushing digital content back in May or June? Especially with the talk of the online servers and cloud. The fact that he didn't meantion Microsoft in the same sentence is laughable and proves how blind XboxFun is.

I commented because his comment made no sense and he needs to explain. It's improperly placed with nothing to support it.

[MightyNoX]

He's not a blind fanboy, he knows *exactly* what he's doing. Like the second poster said, he meticulously singled out Sony and Steam. He harasses N4G's mods on their blogs and accuses Sony from espionage to selling out credit cards.

There are fanboys and there are professionals hired to spread FUDs...and that, my friend, is a spreader of FUD.

[Kryptix]

Microsoft needs a refund then. Their pay and XboxFun's low IQ aren't equal. They should be paying him in peanuts. lol

[WeAreLegion]

I do this every night with your son.

[liquidhalos]

hey dude, what is that gif from. I know it, its on the tip of my tongue, put me out of my misery

[RadioActiveTwinky]

LOL!!! Yea because "Da CloWdz" Runs off "Da cLoWdz"
Troll am cry.

[Haki1112]

"Da CloWdz" doing better than those Twinkies lol

[deadfrag]

All of you people that want online games like Destiny,The crew,the Division and other that are going to appear with the same need features (Online connection required)be ready to start paying more to your Isp;ISp providers want there cut,how can blame then!Blame Ubisoft,EA and other greedy companys that want people to pay to play online games that could be done to play offline.

[FarEastOrient]

All those F2P games are going to take a hit from the ISP. (I'm looking at you League of Legends) You're going to pay first before you can have access to this game. (Thank your ISP)

This sucks, this was one of the advantages the States had over Canada. What next next, monthly data caps :(

[ginsunuva]

But if one ISP does, another one will come along without those costs and steal all their customers.

Unless they all collaborate and fix prices.

[extermin8or]

Google is becoming an ISP in some areas though aren't they? It's in their interest to not charge extra for streaming as youtube is a big one.

[DragonKnight]

Umm, I live in Canada and have yet to pay one cent for anything that this ruling implies I would have to pay for.

Canada has been fighting back against our net issues, but it's slow going and more problems keep popping up. One thing is for sure though, I get unlimited internet for about $70 a month, have yet to notice any throttling, and haven't been blocked form viewing any pages so I don't know what you're talking about in regards to that.

BUT, Canada sucks for prices, bandwidth caps, and choices for sure.

[alexg587]

Everyone move to texas and get google fiber hurry!!!! Lol .....seriously tho that is some bs....seriously again i want google fiber come to new york please

[ABizzel1]

It's in Kansas City now I've tried it when I went back to visit. It's not coming to Texas until later this year and it's going to take them at least 6 - 12 months to build their fiber network, and even then it's going to take another 1 - 2 years for them to get decent coverage, and it's only going to be in Austin which is fine because it's where I'm moving to ;-D

[alexg587]

Oh its not in texas yet dam my bad...how was it when you tried it ?

[ABizzel1]

It works as advertised. I've tried watching a 30 minute Crysis 3 4K YouTube video on my home connection, and it would lag / buffer constantly. I watched it at Google, and it had 1 quick buffer, and played through flawlessly after that.

Did Speed Test, and it instantly went to the 100M for upload and download, but gave results of 800+ MB/s upload and download, and when the test was done it asked "Do you have Goggle Fiber", I guess because it was so fast XD

Played OnLive games on it. Games launched instantly, played The Witcher 2 demo, but the controllers they had were dead, and they only had a Keyboard and no mouse, but the framerate was butter smooth.

Web pages load almost instantly. You enter the address, there's a quick blink, and boom the entire page is loaded.

Netflix streaming is instant, and HD movies look good.

Downloaded the 3 BF4 comparison videos from Gamersyde, and they downloaded in just a few seconds each.

It works as advertised. Maybe not a consistent 1Gb/s upload and download, but it still blows through anything else I've ever used. They said expect a consistent 600Mb - 900+Mb. I think there's a limit on the Wi-Fi speed, I'm not sure, but I believe it's 200Mb/s, but still that's faster than most direct connections as well. I didn't get to see the TV stuff, which, isn't a deal breaker for me. I don't really watch a lot of TV. Supernatural, True Blood (its gone downhill), The Walking Dead, and maybe 1 or 2 other shows, so it wasn't a big miss, but I did want to see if fiber enhanced picture quality as well.

But yeah, it's definitely worth it, and if they can spread the service about 100x faster then they could really put every other ISP out of business. But I see they've added Utah to the next "Fiberhood" map.

https://fiber.google.com/ci...

And another good / decent thing to have is their "free internet". It's $300 for 7 years of internet (or $3.58 per month). It's only 5Mbps Down, 1MBps Up, but for lightweight users it's enough.

[FarEastOrient]

Come on N4G, this should be one of the hottest topics right now as the TV streamers like Netflix, Hulu, and Youtube isn't the only ones going to be affected. Of course we're going to be affected because of connected devices be it playstation, xbox, or steam.

[kingdip90]

I know that I have been saying for months that this is the reason all digital wasn't the future of gaming or streaming media... no one I talked to in all that time cared and just thought me a silly person.

This is a massive issue and I agree it should be the hottest topic on n4g and the net right now.

[B1uBurneR]

Look at the bright side. 20MB is considered standard by comcast 6MB is low. If they get greedy They open the opportunity for other providers to fill the void and they will be a motivation for research and development into cheaper alternative. Google can take over with wifi internet for places comcast has a monopoly on. Over time that technology will improve

[LOOK_AT_THIS_I]

Where I live charter has one end of the city. Time warner has the other. It's amazing that both offer the exact same channels/same speed for nearly identical service yet I am stuck with whatever district they cover to determine my provider.

This is bs. Look recently at AT&T and Verizon mobile broadband. It started out unlimited for both then one took the unlimited option away and went to a cap. Soon the other went the same route.

Conspiracy or not businesses work together to help their empires. None, and I mean NONE of them are in business to make sure we save money. Until people wake up and repeat the Boston tea party with so many of these businesses that bend is over a barrel nothing will change.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

This is the pandora's box I feared. The cable companies have been looking for a way to level the playing field and this will be one of their main weapons.

I can see it now:
"Buy Comcast Internet, its the fastest around!"
"No cable subscription required!"
"Well we do have tiered bandwidth options starting at a whopping 2GB a month for just $60!"
"well if you subscribe to our TV service that will not count against your cap"

Or maybe a more likely scenario...
ISP's get a some kind of revenue deal from streaming services that will allow those services to run on their system un-interupted.

[extermin8or]

THe big companies won't pay and don't want to pay, they'll go to court first and all make a push for Net Neutrality. Think of all the big companies whose digital plans this will fuck with. Sony Comp Entertainment,MS,Apple, Google, Netflix, Spotify, ony Pictures, Sony Music (although technically the same company the different sections of sony seem to appear in court and stuff as though separate generally). Hell even Facebook and vine etc probably count in this. Every site like IGN and such that has videos to be streamed. The list goes on and on-ll of them will not want to pay, I wouldn't be surprised if they all banded together to stop this occuring in some sort of unprecedented legal collaboration.... I forgot Amazon.

[lildudexst]

That why i pay for internet only in my house nobody watch the tv it just be sitting on all day. smh nun of my family member really use tv at all no more we, got hulu,netflix,amazon tv, hbo go. We just got tv on sport center 24 hour 7 days weeks. This idea won't hurt you if internet family like we are.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

You do realize this ruling means that internet providers in the US can go to the likes of Hulu, Netflix, Amazon and yes the recently announced Sony TV and basically force them to pay them for bandwidth or the ISP can limit the bandwidth those services can get i.e. effectively making the service un-usable on that providers network. The effect of this is most likely going to increase the price of those services so this ruling would actually directly impact you. And this doesn't even take into account what the ISP's may try and pull with their own user base in terms of creating more tiers to your level of internet service.

[brewin]

This has a direct impact on people like you! You must not understand exactly what is going on here. Internet providers typically also offer cable services. They are pissed that people are ditching their cable service to use Hulu, Netflix, and all those other streaming services. Now theyre trying to hit those services where it hurts so the cable guys can rake in even more money.

[lildudexst]

So for better understanding if you don't know.
Comcast is not change just because people are using more bandwidth.70% are paying more for bandwidth with them out even knowing.people just want internet bottom line.How many pay over 199$ forgot dam cable tv,phone,internet all in one a whole alot of people.wake up they worrying about sony,ms,netflix,hulu all them streaming.They like hey wtf you stealing all bandwidth. At end people use the internet to get online tv is last thing on there mind. Go to there site trust this have noting to do with people.50MP wtf is 50 mp going do oh sht it full blast lol

[LOOK_AT_THIS_I]

You are still not getting it. When this passes, your internet will become just like TV. This will start tier packages.
Could be bandwidth could be certain sites
for example: You want to access fox/Comedy Central you have to subscribe to tier 3 access. Tier 1 gets govt websites/certain news websites/search engine
Tier 2 gets certain business websites amazon/clothing sites etc...

This shit is awful for cord cutters. It's their way to manipulate media and restrict access. They didn't make people show govt dis last election because it was unfair to poor people, now if you have to pay top dollar to access a needed website for whatever reason no pay/no play. NOTHING GOOD COMES FROM THIS.

[DC777]

lol never gonna happen, there will be riots in the streets...

[OC_MurphysLaw]

umm...its already starting to happen.

[bryam1982]

america the land of the free??? next no internet freedom

[OC_MurphysLaw]

lol...or is it going be become America the land of the internet fee?

[frostypants]

Thank a teabagger. Unbridled freedom for businesses...piss on the consumer. This is the sort of bullsh*t laissez-faire policy leads to. And it *is* bullsh*t. This is EXACTLY the kind of thing the FCC is supposed to prevent.

[HmongAmerican]

This is the only way big brother are able to shutdown the internet. Info these day run through the internet get out there faster then News TV/ mainstream media. Only way to censor the internet is to block us from accesses sites that if you go there you'll be charge extra for the contents.

[frostypants]

This isn't big brother. This is the opposite.

[brewin]

This is the exact reason why I cannot and will never support a system that requires an always on internet connection. If your device is "always online" then it is always using a data connection at its leisure. Ill be damned if Im going to have to pay a fee just to have to pay another fee for right to play the games that I just purchased, and then have to pay for the bandwidth that those games that I already paid for are using. This is asinine and hopefully does not end up actually coming to fruition.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

I think this is more impactful on the companies that are providing streaming services and the like. We end users are already paying premiums for our internet access... but companies like Netflix may now get forced to pay a premium to deliver their content on a subscribers network. See this from Wired:

http://www.wired.com/threat...

"The second largest mobile provider is taking advantage of the data caps it imposes on subscribers by letting companies sponsor the bandwidth their wares use. The consumer who enjoys those sponsored services will not have that broadband count against their monthly data allotment. Sponsorship is not mandatory — if a company doesn’t pay AT&T, the bandwidth will count against the user’s cap as always.

However, under today’s ruling, AT&T conceivably could demand that companies like Netflix or others pay to be carried on their pipes."

[MasterofMagnetism]

This is total BS.

[jmac53]

I have a feeling that Anonymous is going to lay a smack down on the cable companies/government because of this.

[Game4life]

they better do something

[extermin8or]

For once they should do something worthwhile instead of pissing gamers off-it's been awhile.

[SaffronCurse]

Guys, we need to be vocal about this. These companies can't get away with this shit.

[Double_O_Revan]

Oh Balls.......

This would be the worst thing to ever happen to the internet! This makes me a sad SAD Panda.

[isarai]

are....you....fucking....serio us

areyoufuckingserious?

WHAT THE FUCK!!

this is VERY bad for me, i live on a VERY tight budget but internet was one of the few luxeries i could afford, but in my area it's sort of vital. live in a smaller town and cable prices are through the roof ($100 a month is the cheapest it gets)and i can't afford that. We otherwise only get 3 channels on TV without cable, one is the weather channel, the other is a shitty local hunting channel while the final one is PBS(ugh) so internet is pretty much all the entertainment i have, and the only thing to do outside is bars, seriously they rule this city, and i don't drink nor do i like being surrounded by drinkers/drunks. there's nothing else here! WTF AM I SUPPOSED TO DO!?

[Haki1112]

Move?

[isarai]

i just did, but i had to stay in the same area for college. when your money is this tight moving out of state isn't exactly a walk in the park. closest big city to me is 3hrs away, everything else is smaller than this, not exactly a viable option. Not to mention trying to stay close to friends and family

[XabiDaChosenOne]

This is actually quite revolting.
*grabs popcorn

[victorMaje]

Did that just happen?
The internet is one if the greatest forms of freedom of expression.
It doesn't feel at all like the direction it was supposed to take...
Where can we voice our concerns?

[SaffronCurse]

Start a petition maybe? Start a trend on Twitter. That's how we avoided that SOPA bullshit a couple of years back.

[slivery]

Nice, so I pay for a 500GB bandwidth cap for absolutely nothing. Just to be limited even more, even though I have never gone over that.

Wouldn't matter if I did use 500GB of bandwidth every month, that is what I freaking pay for. Cheap bastards, as if we don't get ripped off enough these days, then they try even harder to find more ways.

God damn, so sick of phone carriers and internet providers lately. All this stupid internet and data bullshit.

When is it going to come to a point where people just stop taking it up the arse and actually stop paying these ass clowns. The only way they will know people will not stand for this is by simply not paying for their services until they see clearly.

Yea it would suck going without internet but god damn, how bad will it have to get before that becomes an option. How much of your freedom will be taken away before you actually care enough, instead of just being like most the population and just blindly paying anyway..

[denero1]

another battle -_- my goodness

[monkey48]

We already have strict data caps from out isp's, and now they could block out service like Netflix? These monopolistic companies better not go through with this or they lose a lot of customers. Sad thing is only certain isp's are available in certain areas. Only if Google could step up and make Google fiber availability greater.

[icklydicklydook]

This could be either good or really bad. Hopefully the company that will charge the least will make the most money and thus force other companies to lower their prices.

But given that these companies are oligopolies and tacitly collude, as if they are a cartel, it likely won't happen, and we end up screwed.

[contradictory]

wait, so you guys in the US STILL have datacaps?
fuck the what? no wonder piracy is way more popular here :o

[EximiusNebula]

If this happens I'm moving to a city with google fiber.

[jegheist2014]

I got business class comcast only sip besides scrappy art rabbit tv is future 10 bucks year online tv

[Maxor]

Shit like this is why we need a nationalized ISP. Information and data are too important to be left to the corporations.

Instead of screwing around with health care and spending billions to come up with a solution that pleases no one, he should have been spending money on nationalized ISP with speed that would rival the Japanese and the Koreans. Just imagine the jobs such and tax income such an information super highway will create.

[LOOK_AT_THIS_I]

Nationwide Wi fi was one of his selling points to get technology widespread to everyone even in rural areas. I still can't drive down my highway and stay connected to my cellular provider yet. As far as Google goes, remember the walmart effect. When competition is wiped out they create their own rules and prices. The knight in shining armor could be just as evil as the bad guy ruling the kingdom or worse.

People won't fight for anything now. Almost everything said in fight club is becoming our reality now.

Political parties remind me of Jerry springer. One person you are supposed to root for the other you are supposed to boo. Until everyone wakes up and realizes 95% of the politicians work for the corporations instead of us, nothing in this country will change. Pass the blame, pass the buck, the blame will go away when we take the focus off issue "a" and focus it on "b". Next some big story will come out in a day or two to let this topic die down and quietly settle in.

[Blacklash93]

The US needs another influential political party. Or anything too get away from this simplistic dichotomy of interests, really.

This Red/Blue spectrum is just not working. Intellectual stagnation, directive and administrative inefficiency, strong susceptibility to propoganda and dogma, party- and special interest- owned leaders, ect.

The political scape needs to be objective and informative; not based on propoganda and appeals to dogma and adversity. We need more consideration for leaders that identify outside of the Red/Blue spectrum that bring more flexible ideas and possibilities. We need leaders that can act with integrity and still retain congressional effectiveness. The Red/Blue system chokes out the potential for that.

[jegheist2014]

I got this to say block me I dare us the Fox supreme court and my sip will see what true mental case is u see this spaghetti western revolver comcast or fcc bye bye USA population has decided to raise arms against governments vs I'm first to start the rallying riot

[Deadpool616]

I'm not surprised by this outcome.

Big businesses have more influence within the political and judicial system than most people realize. Even if we were to take them down financially, they would just get a bale out from the government. There's so much more to this that I don't want to talk about it. It just makes me depressed.

[Brucis]

Fuck.

[Chapter11]

Big business wins again! Crush the consumers and take everything from them!

[KingDadXVI]

WTF, glad I live in Canada with my FiberOp. Sorry to hear that to all you US gamers. Hopefully they appeal and overturn that BS.

[kurochi]

This whole ruling is absolutely FXXKED!!!!

[Soldierone]

Awesome, our prices will go up even higher now for even more sub par quality..... we can't even keep up with the rest of the world because these greedy ISP's want to milk our entire wallet.....

It will happen simply do to the "cut the cord" movement. People ditch cable for internet, so cable prices will go down and internet prices will be exploited.

[aLiEnViSiToR]

They will take that "worthless money" one way or another... i guess this is that other way but the sad thing is that there will be no freedom/choice on internet soon which is the real reason, FULL CONTROL in other words OBEY and PAY or else !

The moment GOOD people stop caring about others is the moment THEY win... its NEVER too late.

7,000 years is along time to be asleep, wake up and take action !

[stanr]

Another freedom lost thanks to incompetence of the Obama Administration

[Eonjay]

Sigh:

"Democratic leaders in Congress on Tuesday urged the FCC to take advantage of the oversight power the court did recognize over broadband and offered support in rewriting the rules. Republicans urged the FCC to stay hands-off."

The Republicans sided with Comcast and Verizon. I can't say that I'm in love with Democrats, but Republican are useless. Why are they always in left field when they should be helping us.

[qcjoe]

All both parties care about is keeping power.

[Kingoftherodeo]

why do i get the feeling this judge got a nice paid vacation coming up

[rezzah]

Because money is above the law.

[Orionsangel]

I don't think Hacker groups will put up with this.

[SynestheticRoar]

I'm not paying shit.

[MrPoopyPants]

This will never happen. Internet providers like Comcast, Uversive, etc. will have to buy out companies like Netflix, Microsoft, Sony before they can block or throttle consumers using their service. There's no way these huge companies would allow internet providers to restrict access to their services, to consumers who already pay a monthly subscription fee for them. Mark my words right now, It Won't Ever Happen!!!

[Ch1d0r1]

Great! I was already pissed off they took free USENET access a couple of years ago! What next! (VERIZON)

[qcjoe]

I want the government out of our lives as much as possible, but this law was good. In my area we have two options. One is Time Warner and the other is Cincinnati Bell. Bell only has decent service in some areas and TWC has really bad prices. Things are going to get worse.

[Auron]

this is ass.
Sony: Damn we just announced Playstation now too!!!

[PsylentKiller]

So if I need to contact customer service and they tell me I can chat or have them call me, I either pay to use chat or have them call me for free.
How bout something simpler?
Every business in the world. Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Best Buy, Sears, Macy's, etc. even sites like eBay, Amazon or Microsoft, Sony, Apple. They all want us to move to digital. Digital purchase of movies, games, apps, the stores want us to shop online as well as in the store.

They want me to pay extra to use different websites on the internet on top of a subscription fee (if any)? Are they out of they're damn minds?!
How much money do think they'll make compared to the amount of money they continuously bleed out?

There is also a thing called a monopoly. Here in the states, no one company may have a monopoly. There is one internet. These ISP's are trying to monopolize there share of the market.
Once this goes higher up in the court system it will be seen as one of the most stupidest ideas ever thought up.
I don't think Apple or any other company will stand by whole the ISP tells them that they are blocking their customers from viewing, using, or purchasing their products.
Put your hand in one of these companies pockets and see how fast you get slapped.

[Mansour449]

You all can simply stop using their services for short of time and they will start begging you.

[denero1]

we have to protect our big businesses even though they ship most jobs overseas and complain about not making enough money

/s

[Yodagamer]

In other words "Cable is dying, lets block what's killing it"

[ballisticvoodoo]

There was no problem with the internet before "they" decided there was one. "Net neutrality" is a bogus name just like most legislative titles. It's not what we'll get. This is nothing more than a government power grab to control the internet, not free it up. Always be wary of the slippery slope. They get this garbage passed under the guise of equality and fairness and then the "filters" start popping up. You guys in the UK should know this one since your government applies filters to what they deem inappropriate. Keep the internet free and out of government hands.

[denero1]

Were going to keep losing battles to corporations they are single handily going to fuk up the country and then every bodies going to play the idiot game in congress and act shocked

[chito1016d]

This is the kind of crap that happens when people don't take advantage of their power as citizens. Go out and Vote, write to your representatives, go to your city meetings. None of this would be allowed to get to the supreme court if people voiced their opinions. Please guys, don't let your post be the only action you take on this matter.

[YellowTempes]

US ISPs charge like mad anyway and now they will charge even more for online gaming platforms. Such a GREAT LAND this USA...

[HappyWithOneBubble]

They not stupid enough to do this is they? Remember the Qwikster thing Netflix tried to do but quickly ended because of the backlash. Same shit gonna happen to these internet providers. Customers not gonna stand for this.

[MilkMan]

I hope they appeal this bullshit.

[jay2]

WTF! YES IT WILL YOU DIPSH*T

[kingPoS]

Quote: -will allow more room for innovation, and consumers will have more choices to determine for themselves how they access and experience the Internet.

How does tiering the internet give you more options than what we currently have. Oh wait... it doesn't! It's "No" wonder the US ISP infrastructure is considered backwards to some other countries.

New game consoles offering Amazon Hulu & Netflix sell millions within weeks. A new idea (for america anyway) of Live TV via the internet without cable is announced.

Little more than a week later... what happens? The TV cabals lobby the're way through net neutralty. This is such utter BS! If people can't the're watch streaming or broadcasting services of choice they paid for without paying more, guess what happens then. [Yo ho ho!]

VPN anybody?

Gateway MT6706 2008

[maniac76]

bogus man,bogus lolz.thats some fuct shite right there.but we will pay wotever as time goes by.not like mofos are just gonna stop cold turkey lol.

[Blacklash93]

I guess we'll see. Any provider that chooses to charge extra for apps and access that people have taken for granted for so long is going to lose a lot of business. Honestly, everything about that is complete nonsense.

If any of the likes Comcast, Verizon, Charter, ect. attempt such practices, they'll be ironed out quickly. Even the blind and stubborn consumer market won't stand for something this irredeemably inconvinient, but it's a shame it would need to happen in the first place. It'd be just another reminder that these businesses keep forgetting that they should give their customers the most flexible, free, and accessible service possible. Anything else just deteriorates the quality of the market.

[SirBradders]

Gotta feel sorry for the americans first obama passes a law where americans are all slaves and now this. It doean't suprise me when the whole of america is run by greedy corporations bribing your goverment.

[Mr-Dude]

It sucks reallt bad for the us, and i worrie for us here in Europe

[elweon]

Hey look, its working, the free market in the land of the free! Failol

[CYBERHATER]

Cut the cord!! Anyone that is reading this message should be canceling there cable. These companies must be destroyed!

[ZombieStalker]

You are so true. We already pay exorbitant fees just have access to the internet, they already apply download quotas and now they want to change us based on what we access?

Charge for access to social media sites, gaming, online shopping...where does that end?

My biggest issue...in a lot of places in this country there are no alternate internet provides thus creating a monopoly. No competition, uncontrolled costs!!

For anyone who thinks this is a good thing for the internet, the consumer, and capital creativity, they are either being paid off by the service providers or have no clue what the internet does or provides.

If this goes through this household will go internet dark!!

[worldwidegaming]

This is why offline gaming rules, why physical media is better than digital.
This is why the rich keep a large amount of money in a safe because money in an account can be frozen.
There will be some one saying no and it's gonna be appealed but we know the money is too good!
My avatar fits this perfectly!

[e-p-ayeaH]

freedom is being taken away from us

[Shnooze]

Well, I'm glad I don't live there.

[jhoward585]

I'm soooo upset about this, they're nickel-and-diming us for everything now.

The internet is going to come to an end. So enjoy your streaming while you can ladies and gentlemen.

[mediate-this]

Here in canada, winnipeg manitoba, i have alot of choices, if one tries to screw us like your american companies do we still have like three other choices. And capitalism and monopoly go hand in hand, the states is not true capitalist, they are communists posing in sheep clothing. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. Its the poor people buying all the products. Americans are stuck with a garbage government that sells out their own people.

[tigertron]

Well this is some BS for you Americans, my condolences. I just hope our government/courts don't pull the same kind of crap in Britain.

[Aleithian]

For the record, the two judges who voted against net neutrality were appointed by Clinton, while the third judge, who wavered, was appointed by Reagan. All three were confirmed multiple times by bipartisan Senates.

[-Gespenst-]

The line between state and corporation grows ever more indistinct. Not surprising though.

[jacksons98]

This is what happens when Obama appoints a cable lobbyist as the head of the FCC. How business gets done in America :(

[spektical]

Games known for their multiplayer access will severely be hit by this hilarious ruling. I wonder if these companies or any other internet-service provider will be able to sue for revenue lost. If the FCC is going to exist these are things it should be accountable for, but most important of all regulate net neutrality.

[The_KELRaTH]

If there's to be no net neutrality then individuals should have the right to lay down their own cables and run their own net servers.

[CorndogBurglar]

If this goes through, then i REFUSE to pay for internet use.....except for games and porn.

I can see it already.

Me: *ring ring*

Verizon: Thank you for calling Verizon, how may I help you?

Me: Um yes, I would like to set up internet with you. How much for the "Games and Porn" package?

Verizon: That'll be $100 a month.

[MxRBrobaFett]

I have century link and I like them

[RE_L_MAYER]

guess its my favourite single player time again....never liked internets anyway-they just make internetz games now and dont even care for single player

[dcbronco]

This is the beginning of ISPs either charging you more or charging services money. And charging services more means they will charge you more. Netflix accounts for almost 30% of US DL traffic. ISPs will surely charge them or us for that. I take issue with this especially considering in the US the government and ISPs have gotten together and divided the country into sections that don't allow real out and out competition. The reality is that our free market in America is really bought and paid for by corporations. And once again with this ruling the courts have lent an assist to make sure we are sold out.

[ShadowReaper14]

#KeepNetNeutrality get it trending people.

[Gh05t]

Okay first off the socialistic views in the place are off the charts. This was a win for freedom whether you like it or not you just have to look past the now and into the future.
All you people that are hating on Republicans all I have to say is what if a dirty progressive Republican got elected and actually used the net neutrality to block what they thought was innapropriate. If you don't think it will happen look how bad the Patriot act is being abused.

Let the government stay out and let the big companies mess with people. Watch a new breed of wireless Internet start. It will be epic. You think innovation would stop... This would fuel people all over to cut thier dependency and start creating a better uncensored version. Think of a truly open source internet like linux, Free after buying the equipment.

Stop thinking about today and think of the future. It could be amazing and all because the government stayed OUT! This would the kickstand that people may need.

The futures not all doom and gloom.

[Deadpool616]

I agree with you on letting the government stay out of this. They can barely manage to make one functioning healthcare website...it's like they're stuck in 1995.

Then again, I'm not a fan of big businesses buying out all the competition as well. There needs to be more options that won't destroy consumers wallets at the end of every month. I'm glad Google Fiber is developing in some places to light a fire under the big providers, but there needs to be more new companies to do the same thing. The more competition, the more pressure it'll put on the monopolizing companies. The more ISP's that pop-up the better for us all.

As of right now, the few big companies that are monopolizing certain areas are having their way with us. I'll give it 3 years to see how competitive the ISP market gets, considering this is a fairly young market.

[Gh05t]

Businesses buying other businesses is a great part of capitalism (the people who sold that business probably aren't upset). No one forced the company to sell to the larger company. You talk about Google fiber. Google is poised to be the largest business in the world with thier hands already in governments pockets and getting bigger with thier buying of a large amount of robotic companies with military research and developement.Google is far from your friend. They wanted the energy usage information for homes from the DOE like 2 years ago and backed off because people complained. What did they do. They bought nest for a crap ton of money for that information anyways. Google is the biggest business I have my eye on because they probably know more about me than my wife does.

What sucks is big business lobbyist who use the government to squash small business through laws and regulatuons. Through compliance that a big business may be able to afford but pushes small business out of the way because they can't absorb the costs. One prime example of this is what restaurants lobby for regulations and it stifles people who just want to start food carts. Go ask a food cart vendor if he thinks it's fair he has most the same regulations a restaurant has in a tiny food cart that doesn't even provide the same services.

It's businesses using the government that stifles smaller innovation.

Now I'm all for some regulation like health and safety intellectual property laws (most but not all of them) but thier is an extent to these and none of them should be so cumbersome that it prevents entry to market for a reasonable person who wants to open up a business.

My point was that there is a lot of misguided hate in these comments. If you don't like what's happening you have the freedom to vote with your wallet. Stop buying into the racket. To me it's a supply and demand issue. I don't like the prices but that's what it costs and since I can't do it on my own I rely on someone else and they determine the price.

But if someone else can come to market with a cheaper better option you bet that people would flock to it. It's because the market value of service is the same if it was so high no one could literally afford it then they would have to lower prices to a point that the market can aford.

It costs a bunch of money to install the infrastructure to run the lines for the internet. Why do you think Google fiber isn't expanding by leaps and bounds? It's so dang expensive. I believe they are building operational parts and will soon be developing and deploying a mass wireless system through relay to these select city hubs. In Austin just yesterday they had a community meeting for Google fiber. It was worthless but it showed how far away from deployment they really are. I still believe the Internet as we see it today will be far different in 5 years. I for one am working on trying to change that too.

[Deadpool616]

Thanks for the information! I did not know this. You know your stuff.

[dmonee]

Wow my internet bill is $200 more then last month? Oh I see, they charged me for my 37 seconds of youporn viewing!