Unpredictable. Unfocused. Just like life.

We would never allow discrimination on the basis of race. So why is it alright to discriminate on the basis of bits?

After all, that is what net neutrality is - all bits are created equal.

Not everybody agrees with this though. Digital Copyright Canada points to a post by MarkGoldberg suggesting that net neutrality is an extremist view:

There are extremist views that keep percolating from some elements in the discussion that threaten the nationalization of telecommunications infrastructure unless carriers embrace net neutrality. Whoa!

He says that innovation has happened without net neutrality regulations:

The rapid pace of internet innovation we have witnessed to date has taken place without specialized net neutrality legislation. It seems to me that network neutrality is overly broad regulation that will serve stifle innovation.

Yes innovation happened at a rapid pace precisely because the net was neutral. Telecoms are fond of saying that they are afraid of growth being stifled by new net neutrality regulations but they certainly wouldn't have any problem with new regulations in their favor. What exactly would they lose if the net stayed neutral? Oh yeah, lots and lots of new revenue for the same service that they already provide.

Mr. Goldberg says net neutrality isn't realistic:

Later in the week, I'll look at some examples of why I think the objectives of net neutrality just aren't realistic for customers who want advanced services.

Just out of curiousity, what are these advanced services that customers want? More digital television channels? There are already hundreds and there's never anything on. Do users want companies like Google to pay more for bandwidth? Does that mean the my bandwidth cost will decrease? Didn't think so.

When has a telecom company ever been the first to introduce any kind of advanced service? Any answer will do. Voice mail and call display are not exactly advanced services by the way.

The anti-net neutrality fight by telecoms is all about generating more revenue without providing any additional services. There won't be one drop more bandwidth than there is now - it will just cost more. And there won't be innovation like Google or Joost because those startup companies won't be able to pay for the bandwidth.

Bit discrimination kills innovation. Funny thing though. All that innovation drove internet adoption. When the innovation stops, the customers don't come and the revenue stops too.