WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - U.S. regulators have set an Oct. 22 meeting to formally propose a new "net neutrality" rule aimed at ensuring that network operators treat the flow of Internet content without discrimination, the Federal Communications Commission agency said on Thursday.

At a meeting schedule for Oct. 22, the staff is slated to propose incorporating two new principles into four existing principles the FCC issued several years ago. Analysts widely expect a 3-2 vote with FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and the other two Democrats on the FCC panel in favor of issuing the rules for public comment.

The net neutrality rule would prevent network operators from blocking consumer access to any lawful Internet content, applications and services. Users would also be able to use any nonharmful devices.

Genachowski said on Monday that the two new principles would prohibit operators from discriminating against any Internet applications or content and would require operators to disclose their management practices for Web traffic.

The rule would probably force U.S. phone companies to open their wireless networks to rival Internet services like eBay Inc's (EBAY.O) Skype and Google Inc's (GOOG.O) voice services.

That could result in mobile customers cutting their phone bills by opting for minimum voice plans and doing without text-messaging plans if they use mobile voice and text services from Skype and Google.

The new rule is being considered as the FCC examines why Apple Inc (AAPL.O) rejected the Google Voice application for use on its popular iPhone, sold by AT&T Inc (T.N).

The proposal, if adopted, would be a victory for consumer advocates and big Internet companies like Google at the expense of telecom operators like AT&T, Verizon Communications Inc (VZ.N) and Sprint Nextel Corp (S.N). (Reporting by John Poirier; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)

Source://http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN2444717720090924

Roots of Ecommerce

Internet Good Or Bad?

This is a news from 2007

In an attempt to "reclaim the Internet," Prince is preparing to file lawsuits against YouTube, eBay and The Pirate Bay, for allegedly encouraging copyright violations, according to one of his representatives.

The rock star has hired Web Sheriff, a British-based company that specializes in hunting down pirated content on the Web, to launch a legal campaign against companies that wrongfully profit from the artist's work, according to John Giacobbi, Web Sheriff's president.

Prince plans to file suit in both the United States and the U.K., and has hired a top Swedish law firm to take action againstThe Pirate Bay, a BitTorrent tracking site, Giacobbi said on Thursday. Prince has chosen a legal course because sites like YouTube and eBay have left him no other effective way to protect his copyright on their sites, according to Giacobbi.

Source://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9778087-7.html

What do you guys think? Is internet promoting piracy?