This is a major departure from how telephone companies are currently regulated! Common carrier rules mean that AT&T, for example, has to treat an incoming call from Qwest exactly as though it were on the AT&T network: they can't impose a surcharge on Qwest nor can they deliberately route the call so that the quality of the call is degraded.
The US House of Representatives has passed a telecom reform bill which allows telecos and cable companies to set up a two-tiered system. The Senate has a bill pending which would do the same.
Cable wants to be your "telephone" provider. Your teleco wants to deliver "video." With network discrimination a reality, incoming "internet phone calls" could be legally delayed or blocked if they originated with a competing company. We had a system like this once: then the Justice Department broke up AT&T and allowed competition for long distance service.
Those arguing for a moratorium against network packet discrimination include the National Rifle Association, the Christian Coalition, and various local governments around the country.
Photo copyright Scott Beale (Laughing Squid) and Used By Permission
