[ NNSquad ] Re: Neutrality in Perspective

[Brett Glass <nnsquad@brettglass.com>]

At 02:42 PM 11/13/2007, Bob Frankston wrote:

> Ultimately the solution is local ownership of local (physical) 
> infrastructure and a focus on the First Square Mile (FSM) rather 
> than the First (or Last) mile access to the emergent property we 
> call "The Internet" or, worse, "Internet".

That's exactly what small, local ISPs such as LARIAT represent, 
Bob: local, responsive, consumer-friendly ownership of local 
physical infrastructure. But if you try to micromanage and 
legislate how we do business without having been in the trenches, 
you risk destroying us and leaving behind the duopoly you seem to 
dislike. Tactics that won't put a scratch on the hides of the huge 
behemoths such as Comcast and Verizon will put us right out of 
business. In fact, I could just see those behemoths pushing through 
the sort of regulation you propose for their competitors (like us) 
but getting exemptions for themselves. What a great 
anti-competitive move: Throw the little guys in the pit to be 
devoured by the rabid end-to-endians. Don't laugh; it's a likely 
outcome of the move toward so-called "network neutrality" legislation.

--Brett Glass, LARIAT.NET