BT Content Connect service faces 'two-tier net' claims

[DorsetBoy]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12112389

BT has introduced a controversial service that some say could allow broadband providers to create a "two-tier internet".

Content Connect, as it is known, allows Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that use BT's network to charge content firms for high-speed delivery of video.

It could spell the end of so-called "net neutrality", where all traffic on the net is treated equally.

Critics say it will also reduce competition for consumers.

"This is a sea change in the way that content is delivered by ISPs," Jim Killock of the net freedom campaign organisation, the Open Rights Group, told BBC News.

"It is essentially them saying: 'Rather than delivering whatever content is on the internet as best we can, here are our services that we will deliver through our own network.'"

He said the result could be a "fundamental shift" from consumers choosing what video and gaming services they buy on the internet to "buying services from the internet to bundled services from ISPs".

"This would reduce competition and take investment away from internet companies - that would be bad for everyone."....... (more)

[Technical Ben]

Hmmm. No problem if this means you pay for "Sky over the internet" or "BT vision on demand". But it is a problem if Youtube is charged just for the fact they have video.
There is an easy way around it. Convert your video to ascii, then reconvert it on the pc. Then your not charge the "video" tax, if that is what it becomes. 

[Rik]

Presumably, this will impose itself on all BT-dependent ISPs by default?

[SSK]

There is an easy way around it. Convert your video to ascii, then reconvert it on the pc. Then your not charge the "video" tax, if that is what it becomes. 

Isn't that what we 'oldies' might call 'usenet'? 
Maybe this will see the rebirth of newsgroups.

Sean

[Rik]

Good thought, Sean, it's quite likely, isn't it.

[Glenn]

Does this mean, BT Vision will have to pay BT Wholesale millions to transmit it's content?

[Rik]

Well, that would be the theory, but I'm sure they'll work around it.

[pctech]

So we're charged for a data 'circuit' that runs at any speed it feels like any time of day and on top of that they are going to impose QoS.

QoS has been on the cards since 21CN (or S21T as I prefer to call it) started to be rolled out but BT have been looking how to commercialise the QoS features already built into the Cisco kit they've been buying and now they've found it.

[Rik]

Welcome to the world of monopoly, Mitch.

[kinmel]

Isn't that what we 'oldies' might call 'usenet'? 
Maybe this will see the rebirth of newsgroups.

Sean

They never went away, many of us never moved on to P2P 

[Rik]

It's odd, though, that most ISPs, it seems, ceased to offer a newsgroup service, isn't it.

[pctech]

Suppose I'll have to start looking into LLU.

[David]

For the uninitiated like me .... I dont watch videos or play games so what difference would folk like me  see if any 

C.mon dont keep it to yourselves 

[Rik]

It shouldn't affect you, David, it seems to be targeted at iPlayer etc.

[David]

I will shut up then 

[Rik]

You?? 

[pctech]

Just put a mail into Zen about it, someone had already asked on their forum but its a bit dead there.

[Rik]

You want me to come across and shake things up a bit, Mitch?

[pctech]

 

Already suggested they need some mods as there was quite a bit of spam over the holidays.

There's only me and a couple of others that post regularly.

[Rik]

That's daft, you can't safely leave a forum to run itself, as we discovered on Sunday.

[pctech]

Indeed Rik.

[Technical Ben]

For the uninitiated like me .... I dont watch videos or play games so what difference would folk like me  see if any 

C.mon dont keep it to yourselves 

As mentioned, things like Iplayer. What I am worried about, is being charge for what type of packet my computer sends. As far as I care, I am sending ones and zeros from my modem. I do not want to be charged for different types of ones or zeros. If they want to charge me for quicker services, higher pings, or longer use, I'm happy. If they want to charge me for using a MP4 video instead of an Apple Quicktime one, I'm furious! 

[pctech]

I think we are already charged too much for 'net access in the UK considering what we actually get.

[Rik]

As with everything else, Mitch.

[pctech]

If a crippled connection becomes the norm I'll go back to that BT owned Yorkshire outfit as 6.50 is more than enough.