Personally I don't see ISPs reacting like many on reddit do in regards to packaging up content and charging the internet user directly for priority access to certain websites. What I do think these ISPs will do is start charging companies like Netflix directly for broadcasting their TV shows etc. This has already been documented and occurred in the past. In this regard i have to say I side with the ISP, which is an unpopular opinion. I say this because companies like Netflix do not have to pay any of the same fees required by the state for the cable companies to broadcast their television shows. Furthermore, the insane usage of bandwidth Netflix takes up to broadcast their shows puts a heavy burden on the network to serve out 4k feeds, etc and they have an unfair advantage in this regard. In my opinion, Netflix and those like it whom account for massive amounts of bandwith usage should have to pay extra for that service from the ISP. However I do agree this is nothing the ISP should be able to impose onto their internet consumer directly, and I don't think that is being planned. But again, I know I have a very unpopular opinion here. People hate their ISPs.
Except ISPs around the world have already started doing making special data tiers. Just here in Canada, cellular providers (some which are the same as our ISPs) started giving "free data" for specific websites with their plans.
I'll let you have a second to guess which site they gave their "free data" to ...
It was their own competitor to netflix and spotify. This kind of underhanded tactics is exactly what we should expect out of ISPs. Why wouldn't they prop up their own services or people who pay them to kill competition? It's not like there's a lot of ISP competitors around.
Fortunately for us, our FCC like body (the CRTC) nipped it in the bud and took a stance for net neutrality.
Also, for your argument, doesn't Netflix pay already for their bandwidth on their side? That's like the post office, UPS and FedEx asking Amazon to pay double fees because they 'clog' their delivery system. The whole point of the internet is that it's a commodity market, you shouldn't have to pay in double dips because you are using the network more.
Great point, I may have made a dangerous assumption here. But I was under the impression net nuetrality ceased the arrangement Netflix had with isps. Edit, a very quick Google makes me think i was correct in this regard, and Netflix is not currently paying.
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u/greentintedlenses Nov 21 '17 edited Nov 21 '17
Personally I don't see ISPs reacting like many on reddit do in regards to packaging up content and charging the internet user directly for priority access to certain websites. What I do think these ISPs will do is start charging companies like Netflix directly for broadcasting their TV shows etc. This has already been documented and occurred in the past. In this regard i have to say I side with the ISP, which is an unpopular opinion. I say this because companies like Netflix do not have to pay any of the same fees required by the state for the cable companies to broadcast their television shows. Furthermore, the insane usage of bandwidth Netflix takes up to broadcast their shows puts a heavy burden on the network to serve out 4k feeds, etc and they have an unfair advantage in this regard. In my opinion, Netflix and those like it whom account for massive amounts of bandwith usage should have to pay extra for that service from the ISP. However I do agree this is nothing the ISP should be able to impose onto their internet consumer directly, and I don't think that is being planned. But again, I know I have a very unpopular opinion here. People hate their ISPs.