COPYCENSE

“Virtually since the Internet’s creation, its most devoted protectors have been wondering how long it would take for the forces of unrestrained commerce to throttle its freedom and innovation.

“Now they have a date: Some people believe the breakpoint will come as early as Jan. 6, 2008.

“That’s when the telecommunications marriage of Verizon Communications and MCI marks its second anniversary and sheds an important restriction imposed by the Federal Communications Commission when it approved the deal in November: a requirement that Verizon comply with the principle known as ‘network neutrality’ for two years following the completion of its acquisition.

“Absent network neutrality, network operators could dictate to customers which Internet services they could access, and at what quality.”

Michael Hiltzik. Web’s Fate May Hinge on ISPs’ Neutrality. LATimes.com. Jan. 30, 2006.

See also:

CopyCense. Big Telecom Moving Away from Network Neutrality. Jan. 25, 2006.

CopyCense™: K. Matthew Dames on the intersection of business, law and technology. A business venture of Seso Digital LLC.