This is bad news, people, very bad news.
For years, Internet advocates have warned of the doomsday scenario that will play out on Monday: Google and Verizon will announce a deal that the New York Times reports “could allow Verizon to speed some online content to Internet users more quickly if the content’s creators are willing to pay for the privilege.”
The deal marks the beginning of the end of the Internet as you know it. Since its beginnings, the Net was a level playing field that allowed all content to move at the same speed, whether it’s ABC News or your uncle’s video blog. That’s all about to change, and the result couldn’t be more bleak for the future of the Internet, for television, radio and independent voices.
This is Darth Vader bad for a lot of people. Read Josh Silver’s entire interview. If you love the Internet and what it gives you, this is scary stuff and moves in to the haves and the have nots.
UPDATED: R. Neal has more.
Moveon and other groups are petitioning the companies involved and, I think, the Congress, regulatory agencies, etc. to stop this. Don’t know if it will work, but if we told both entities (Verizon and Google) that we’d use their competition it might.