Tiered Internet a threat to small business growth?
March 7, 2006 by Mary Wynne-Wynter
Although I understand the need for telcos and cablecos to recoup the
cost of upgrading their networks, I find the plans to raise Internet
and Email fees troubling for small business.
The High-Speed Money Line - New York Times: "
By KEN BELSON
Published: March 6, 2006
Are consumers going to start having to spend a lot more to surf the Web?
Phone and cable companies have stoked those fears recently by floating plans that would have Amazon, Yahoo and other Web sites paying new fees to ensure that their content will be delivered to customers faster.
This possibility has raised the prospect that consumers may end up having to pay twice for access to the Internet — once to the phone or cable company that sells them a dial-up or broadband line, and again to Internet companies that pass along new charges for fast access to content from their sites.
EFF: Breaking News: "
February 24, 2006
Strange Bedfellows Unite to Fight AOL's 'Email Tax'
This Tuesday, an unlikely coalition of left and right, non-profits and small businesses, and Internet advocacy groups will hold a national telephone news conference call to announce an unprecedented combined campaign against AOL's new 'pay-to-send' email proposal - which amounts to an 'email tax.'
To RSVP for the call, please email Alex@Fenton.com. Space is limited.
Under AOL's recently announced 'certified email' proposal, large emailers willing to pay an 'email tax' can bypass spam filters and get guaranteed access to people's inbox"
EFF: Breaking News: "
March 07, 2006
DearAOL.com Coalition Grows From 50 Organizations to 500 In One Week
30,000 Email Users Sign Open Letter
San Francisco - Despite AOL's attempt to divide its critics, the DearAOL.com Coalition announced Monday it has grown tenfold from 50 organizations to more than 500 as it fights AOL's controversial plan to create a two-tiered Internet that leaves the little guy behind.
Last week, AOL's proposed 'email tax' came under fire from a coalition of political groups on the left and right, businesses and non-profits, charities, and Internet advocacy organizations.
Light Reading - Services Software - AT&T Sets Up Internet Tollbooths - Telecom News Analysis:
As it grows in size and scope, AT&T Inc. says it will also be among those carriers building tollbooths for its last-mile broadband networks.
The telco giant's product development and sales teams are now busy designing ‘packet prioritization’ products for sale to content providers that depend on AT&T last-mile networks to deliver services to consumers. Such products reserve a ‘fast lane’ on AT&T's networks for the safe and speedy transit of traffic from whichever company is paying the toll.