Verizon Threatens Google's 'Free Lunch' 724
ILikeRed writes to tell us the Washington Post is reporting that Verizon is becoming much more vocal about internet firms using "their" lines to do business without paying extra. From the article: "The network builders are spending a fortune constructing and maintaining the networks that Google intends to ride on with nothing but cheap servers," Thorne told a conference marking the 10th anniversary of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. "It is enjoying a free lunch that should, by any rational account, be the lunch of the facilities providers." This, as lawmakers are approaching new legislation that could let telcos charge internet companies much more for the use of high speed connections.
After 20 minutes of being on hold... (Score:5, Funny)
Verizon: I see that you don't have call waiting on your line. I'll go ahead and add that for you, ok? We're also running a promotion that adds no value to you but will extend your contract with us. Would you like to hear about it?
I beg your pardon.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:This Ain't No Free Lunch (Score:3, Funny)
Internet Damage (Score:5, Funny)
Verizon doesn't want to carry traffic? FINE, we can arrange that.
Google should just stop serving Verizon (Score:5, Funny)
Simple solution, Verizon thinks google is getting a service from THEM?
Google shuts them off and 24 hours later every verizon customer will think their internet connection is broken.
Re:This Ain't No Free Lunch (Score:3, Funny)
those baby bell pies have mud in them, not tasty at all.
-nB
Re:Simple solution, in Google style (Score:5, Funny)
Telcos have alot of dark fibre in the States.
Most people assume that's optical fibre...but it's actually moral fibre.
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Free Lunch? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Simple solution, in Google style (Score:1, Funny)
Please select your method of payment:
Re:Free Lunch? (Score:3, Funny)
It might not be HIS number, nudge nudge, wink wink
familiar (Score:2, Funny)
hate to tell you... (Score:4, Funny)
wasting my time reading this post (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Mushrooms (Score:2, Funny)
Suppose you are brewery whose product basically defines the character of this capital city. Beer sales are good locally and abroad; and secondary effects from tourism and transportation employment have a positive effect. Therefore, the city thinks the water provided to the brewery is worth more; and tries to charge the brewery above and beyond. Not only that; but any establishment which sells this beer has to pay more for sewage fees.
Ultimate effect -- beer prices soar, sales plummet, beer production falls, pubs close all across the city, men have to spend time with their wives while sober, and professional sports become whole lot less interesting. Financial, social, and emotional doomsday.
Re:Free Lunch? (Score:5, Funny)
Really? The last time I checked, India was supposed to be "the placed your programming career just got outsourced to"...
Re:Free Lunch? (Score:2, Funny)
Yeah no doubt... But just for clarification, are those metric buttloads or SAE buttloads?
Re:Mushrooms (Score:3, Funny)
Oh, crap.
Re:Free Lunch? (Score:3, Funny)
Here it comes... (Score:5, Funny)
We are sorry to inform you that you will no longer be able to access Google, Yahoo, eBay, Amazon, and other high-bandwidth commercial sites through your Verizon internet connection. Due to the loads that these services place on Verizon's network system, Verizon has instituted a new policy which states that high-bandwidth commercial web sites must compensate Verizon for their usage of our network. The companies listed above, and others, have elected not to do so. Therefore, we have no choice but to discontinue the availability of these and other web sites on your internet connection.
We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
Sincerely,
Verizon Customer Service
------------------
Dear Verizon,
Pbbbbbtttthhhppp.
Sincerely,
A Valued Soon-To-Be Ex-Verizon Customer.
mushroom comments are, well...mushrooming (Score:2, Funny)
Ok, now that I've ranted, I've gotta tell you what a fun guy you are, Anonymous Coward. I will spore you and move on, but the morel of the story is that if you start talking mushrooms you had better be ready for someone to truffle with you!
--
I'll be here all week. Tip your waitresses!
Re:Mushrooms (Score:2, Funny)
That is, Google is a content provider. The content it provides is links, which require great skill and a great investment to produce. All Verizon does is deliver the damn mushrooms. Does the delivery boy deserve a bonus every time a chef creates a masterpiece? Does the mail man get a cut if you mail a script, or a check?
Verizon needs to keep their hands off my damn mushrooms.
Re:Mushrooms (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Do google pay for bandwidth? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Do google pay for bandwidth? (Score:5, Funny)
The commentators all say that Google has been buying shedloads of dark fibre. If this is so, does Google have anything to lose in this fight? By this time next year, could we see Google as the main backbone supplier in the US, and the Bells all whimpering a corner, saying 'please, sir, we didn't mean it'?