Net Pioneers Say Open Internet Should Be Separate

angry tapir writes "The US Federal Communications Commission should allow for an open Internet separate from specialized services that may prioritize IP traffic, a group of Internet and technology pioneers has recommended. The document, filed in response to an FCC request for public comments on proposed network neutrality rules, steers clear of recommending what rules should apply to the open Internet. Among the tech experts signing the document are Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple; Bruce Perens, founder of the open-source software movement; Clay Shirky, an author and lecturer at New York University's Interactive Telecommunications Program; and David Reed, a contributor to the development of TCP/IP and an adjunct professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab."

After reading TFA

[santax]

I can honestly say I don't understand it. But it does sound like something that I end up paying for. Santax is Dutch and hates paying.

Re:Internet2 was great for academia..

[NoSig]

The problem here would be your power company who promised both you and the guy next door to provide more electricity than the power company is capable of providing.

Re:Internet2 was great for academia..

[mr_mischief]

There's no limit to what electricity they can use other than their breaker, but there is certainly a limit on the use of the property for commercial use in most jurisdictions. They need to be in a commercial zone or have a commercial zoning variance. If they need more than their breaker can handle or need additional service built in from the distribution network, they'll have to pay for it. If they're selling flowers, vegetables, or trees in commercial quantities from their residential home, they'll need a zoning change or variance. It's convenient that the commercially zoned property will already have sufficient electrical service in most cases.

Re:Bruce Perens, founder of the open-source softwa

[Bruce Perens]

Actually, I signed it "co-founder". And I have a video of me acknowledging Richard Stallman, at the U.N. no less, so don't fault me on that. I say that we're standing on his shoulders, and Richard, no kidding, grabs his shoulders and covers them!

Re:No good answers

[dalani]

internet was developed with tax dollars.. did the ISP pay for the development costs? no

Re:Bruce Perens, founder of the open-source softwa

[Bruce Perens]

I signed it "co-founder", the article gets that wrong. And of course I acknowledge that RMS is the founder of the Free Software movement and Open Source stands upon his shoulders, just as RMS acknowledges that Free Software existed before he came along. There are several online videos of me speaking in which I explicitly acknowledge RMS, one of them shot at the U.N. Summit on the Information Society.

Re:Internet2 was great for academia..

[dryeo]

They just did this locally, probably for same reason. They replaced a few poles and added another wire. Longest part was cutting back the trees. Took about 2 weeks including a day of traffic tie ups. The electric company wants to sell all the power they can as that's how they make money.

Re:Bruce Perens, founder of the open-source softwa

[Bruce Perens]

Sigh. I signed it as "co-founder of the Open Source movement in software", in an attempt to get some credibility for the issue. Unfortunately a lot of the folks who were in favor of Net Neutrality in congress aren't going to be in congress any longer. We are in a really bad position and this is an attempt to get some movement back on the field.