Comcast Works to Close the Internet

This is exactly what I'm talking about when I say I support Net Neutrality. Comcast issued an ultimatum to enterprise and wholesale Internet provider Level 3. The message: "Pay up." Here's part of Level 3's press release on the matter.

"On November 19, 2010, Comcast informed Level 3 that, for the first time, it will demand a recurring fee from Level 3 to transmit Internet online movies and other content to Comcast's customers who request such content. By taking this action, Comcast is effectively putting up a toll booth at the borders of its broadband Internet access network, enabling it to unilaterally decide how much to charge for content which competes with its own cable TV and Xfinity delivered content. This action by Comcast threatens the open Internet and is a clear abuse of the dominant control that Comcast exerts in broadband access markets as the nation's largest cable provider.

...

"While the network neutrality debate in Washington has focused on what actions a broadband access provider might take to filter, prioritize or manage content requested by its subscribers, Comcast's decision goes well beyond this. With this action, Comcast is preventing competing content from ever being delivered to Comcast's subscribers at all, unless Comcast's unilaterally-determined toll is paid -- even though Comcast's subscribers requested the content. With this action, Comcast demonstrates the risk of a 'closed' Internet, where a retail broadband Internet access provider decides whether and how their subscribers interact with content.

Comcast wants to treat Internet access the same way they treat cable. You have to pay more to get access to the things you actually want to see.

Remember, you're already paying for the bandwidth to download anything on the Internet whether it's simple web pages, email or streaming video. What Comcast is doing is more than just putting up a toll booth. They are charging two people, Comcast's own customers and Level 3, for the same bits. Isn't it nice to do a job and get paid twice for it?

(h/t Groklaw NewsPicks)