Net blackout sparks talk of new rules

(continued from previous page)

and communications infrastructure, some have called for a basic set of rules that would keep traffic flowing.

Mark Cooper, director of research for the Consumer Federation of America, compares the state of today's Internet to the development of roads, or the creation of national telephone networks 100 years ago. Government acted in both cases to ensure the free flow of economically important traffic, he said.

"There comes a point where some of these functionalities, such as the seamless interoperation of the Internet, are too important to leave to the private interest of businesses," Cooper said. "We like to think that people won't do antisocial things, but when push comes to shove they will defend their economic interests even at the expense of the public."

Cooper added that he is worried that similar disagreements over "peering" relationships could evolve over the next year, as SBC Communications buys AT&T and Verizon Communications acquires MCI. Those deals will make the resulting companies far larger than their erstwhile peers, and may prompt them to ask smaller companies for money to exchange traffic, he said.

Congressman Boucher said that he would introduce language that would create a "right of interconnection" between data network companies, in an effort to avoid situations like this one. Under his idea, billing disputes that could not be resolved by the companies would be taken to the Federal Communications Commission for resolution.

The measure would not give the FCC new power to write rules governing network interconnection but would simply give the body a "traffic cop" role, ensuring that interconnection prices and agreements were reasonable, Boucher said.

House committee drafts of the telecommunications law revision already outline a new role for the FCC in mediating some connection disputes, such as between Internet voice service providers.

The idea of new rules, even mild ones, worries traditional foes of regulations. Lawyer and analyst Braden Cox, of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, said an FCC mediation could be tainted by political forces and would undermine private negotiations.

"If it was a government mandated process, it's not really mediation," Cox said. "This is something that the market can rectify. Angry consumers can push (the companies forward) better than the FCC could."

Cogent executives say their company--like most Internet companies--is wary of any new regulations that might stem from its situation. But they say they would like to see the FCC, or any other body, help restart negotiations to bring the current situation to an end.

"We are happy with a world that is mostly unregulated," Cogent Chief Legal Officer Bob Beury said. "What we would welcome is good offices of the FCC in encouraging Level 3 to open the Internet back up, and in bringing us all back to the table to address this issue."

[testtest]

YOU ARE MAKING TOO MUCH OUT OF THIS

Any decent provider will not be relying on one network and will
have already rerouted traffic through other providers. This
should be a non issue and has been for me and countless
others. With the way you guys are talking, it sounds like the
world is coming to end. Give me a break! The Internet is not
dying! I can't get to Cogent through Level-3, so I just get to
Cogent through WilTel.

This would be like if a road closed down and someone said that
the nation's transportation system is down and we are all
screwed! Give me a break! Just take another road, you idiots!
CNet really knows how to blow stories completely out of
proportion. Net Blackout Sparks Talk of New Rules. Blackout my
ass. If you have a blackout it's your own damn fault for not
having an alternate route.

[killerpenguinz]

Re: YOU ARE MAKING TOO MUCH OUT OF THIS

Yes, because we are not all rich, nor can afford multiple carrier connections. Maybe where we are located we can't have multiple carriers. Before you blow your mouth off, maybe you should consider all sides of a situation.

[Rod Adams]

Too much?

Your comment seems to come from the perspective of an IT or
network adminstrator for a large organization.

How would a typical consumer or college student (some university
networks seem to be affected) know that they need more than one
provider in order to obtain reliable service? If Johnny is sending a
message to Dad asking for more money and that email is stopped
because of the dispute, who is to blame? Is there any recourse for
these consumers?

[testtest]

YOU ARE MAKING TOO MUCH OUT OF THIS

Any decent provider will not be relying on one network and will
have already rerouted traffic through other providers. This
should be a non issue and has been for me and countless
others. With the way you guys are talking, it sounds like the
world is coming to end. Give me a break! The Internet is not
dying! I can't get to Cogent through Level-3, so I just get to
Cogent through WilTel.

This would be like if a road closed down and someone said that
the nation's transportation system is down and we are all
screwed! Give me a break! Just take another road, you idiots!
CNet really knows how to blow stories completely out of
proportion. Net Blackout Sparks Talk of New Rules. Blackout my
ass. If you have a blackout it's your own damn fault for not
having an alternate route.

[killerpenguinz]

Re: YOU ARE MAKING TOO MUCH OUT OF THIS

Yes, because we are not all rich, nor can afford multiple carrier connections. Maybe where we are located we can't have multiple carriers. Before you blow your mouth off, maybe you should consider all sides of a situation.

[Rod Adams]

Too much?

Your comment seems to come from the perspective of an IT or
network adminstrator for a large organization.

How would a typical consumer or college student (some university
networks seem to be affected) know that they need more than one
provider in order to obtain reliable service? If Johnny is sending a
message to Dad asking for more money and that email is stopped
because of the dispute, who is to blame? Is there any recourse for
these consumers?

The real problem is....

The real issue here is the governmental intervention that is guaranteed to occur as a result of the short sightedness of a few corporate executives. Whether the motivation was personal or truly of shareholder interest, the result will be more regulation and taxes.

Will this eventually mirror our regulated telephone industry which is taxed very heavily ?to protect the interest of the consumer??

Yep- Federal regulation is the outcome

and it's no good for nobody- especially as it will be the linchpin that the UN can make it's case on to gather even more regulations and controls.

This clash of egos and pennys may go down as the worst internet decisions ever made.

The real problem is....

The real issue here is the governmental intervention that is guaranteed to occur as a result of the short sightedness of a few corporate executives. Whether the motivation was personal or truly of shareholder interest, the result will be more regulation and taxes.

Will this eventually mirror our regulated telephone industry which is taxed very heavily ?to protect the interest of the consumer??

Yep- Federal regulation is the outcome

and it's no good for nobody- especially as it will be the linchpin that the UN can make it's case on to gather even more regulations and controls.

This clash of egos and pennys may go down as the worst internet decisions ever made.

[m.meister]

I saw this coming..

In a post to the original story, I said they either need to get their
act together pronto, or face new regulations.

The fact is that Level 3 could take this to court without cutting off
the pipe. Their arrogance will cost them in new regulations.

This is what happens when business men act like 6-year-olds, they
get treated like 6-year-olds.

[m.meister]

I saw this coming..

In a post to the original story, I said they either need to get their
act together pronto, or face new regulations.

The fact is that Level 3 could take this to court without cutting off
the pipe. Their arrogance will cost them in new regulations.

This is what happens when business men act like 6-year-olds, they
get treated like 6-year-olds.

[ZenWarrior]

War on Terror!

Charge them both with domestic terrorism!

[ZenWarrior]

War on Terror!

Charge them both with domestic terrorism!