Bitcoin Forum

The question being if society is to be regulated in the forms of information it can receive and the speed at which new services crop up does this lead to a slippery slope from which we will not be able to return.

The compromised Open Internet Order struck down today left much to be desired, but it was a step toward maintaining Internet users’ freedom to go where they wanted, when they wanted, and communicate freely online. Now, just as Verizon promised it would in court, the biggest broadband providers will race to turn the open and vibrant Web into something that looks like cable TV. They’ll establish fast lanes for the few giant companies that can afford to pay exorbitant tolls and reserve the slow lanes for everyone else.

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116222/court-fcc-ruling-will-let-big-monopolies-take-over-internet
http://techcrunch.com/2014/01/14/fcc-open-internet-order-struck-down/
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/01/net-neutrality-is-half-dead-court-strikes-down-fccs-anti-blocking-rules/

Simple free market rules would come into effect. Consumer (you and I) aren't happy with the product (Verizon). A competitor sees this as a vulnerability to gain valuable market shares of the highly sought after ISP market. Consumer is happy with competitors service, albeit a bit more expensive than today's rates (possibly, most likely in fact), but I absolutely believe the services would be much, much faster than is currently present in the majority of the United States. Verizon would either have to take the market loss and hope that their additional "fast lane" users will compensate for that, or they'll revert to some other business model.

No, there's no competition in many places, plus it's very difficult and expensive to start a new ISP, and there's also shady agreements between ISPs so they can have control over prices, maintain their monopoly and keep new players from entering the market.

Huge setback for the Internet
But lat word has hopefully not yet been spoken

I have the same initial reaction, but I am not really sure it is a setback... I mean, it is to a degree... but wouldn't it be cool to be able to stream much better and higher quality?  I mean it'll cost a bit, but whatever... I is a setback for torrents one would think though.

Let me stop you right there.  The problem is that a competitor DOES NOT EXIST.  Competition in the USA ISP market was basically erased due to the ruling in NCTA v. Brand X.

Get ready to have your Internet bill  sky rocket.

Just remember, the worse things get, the more incentive there is for alternatives. Really hoping for mesh networks to become mainstream.

The way I understand the ruling, Net Neutrality applies to all telecom companies except for Comcast.

One answer might be for internet companies to form their own internet provider services; effectively bypassing Verizon, AT&T, and everyone else who lobbied for this.

Google is already doing that, but state legislatures are basically being bribed to blockade them, as well as municipal fibre projects and anything else that would threaten the telcos and cablecos.