BusinessWeek, an online magazine that I read regulary, reports on some worrysome developments regarding the Internet providers vulturing for more cash. The idea is, that those site owners who pay more get more bandwidth and those who don't are slowed down or even blocked. It threatens the whole idea of the Internet as a source of free information and a place for nurturing entreprenurial business people with a great idea. For example, I am a regular user of Skype, the free internet telephony service that is currently taking the world by storm. I started using it because it was clearly superior to MSN Messenger, not only in sound quality but also speed. In the world that the AOLs, XS4alls, Elisa's, Verizons etc. dream of, a small company like Skype with a great idea and great technology would stand no chance against Goliaths Microsoft, Yahoo! or what have you. New ideas will be blocked and everyone will eventually be stuck with what the big boys think the rest of us should eat. Eventually, the Internet will become as boring as TV is nowadays. Also what the providers seem to miss is the incredible influence the Internet and its growth has had and will have on the world economy. So, I say: Back off and keep the Internet free, totally free.
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