Forgive me in advance for rambling a bit, because there are two or three topics I wanted to address in one article. These are just some observtions that didn't fit into other articles, but I thought were important to bring out.
BROADBAND CONNECTIONS
Anyone who has struggled along with dialup connections to the internet, knows how frustrating the lack of speed can be. I think my first modem had a connection speed of 2400 bps. I struggled along for years with dialup, trying to get the most speed out of whatever modem I had at that time, and it took a long time to get a high speed connection where I live.
Once you do get a cable connection, it really changes your internet experience.
The ISPs have spent a lot of money building their broadband infrastructure, and try to sign up more customers all the time.
But, one of the main things that drives people to spend an extra 40-50 bucks a month for high speed internet, is for the speed and ease with which you can download and upload files. I doubt that if the only benefit from having a fast connection was loading webpages faster, or downloading your mail faster, that many could justify the excess cost.
And, I don't think all those cable modems are humming along downloading patches from Microsoft, nor downloading movie trailers from Apple.com . There are tens of millions of people using P2P, and the majority seem to have a fast connection. I'm not saying that everyone with a cable modem is sitting around downloading MP3s or new movies,
but, there are lots of people whose primary use of their high speed, is to download and/or upload files of some sort.
Sure, there are also lots of legal data transfers that are facilitated by a fast connection, including telephone calls/voice over cable, sending medical imaging data, virtual medical procedures (e.g. such as consultations), and many other non-infringing uses.
Some ISPs have gone to limiting the amount of bandwidth a customer can use in a given period, i.e. limiting the amount of megabytes or gigabytes one can transfer over their internet connection per week or per month.
P2P- The virtual "RED LIGHT DISTRICT"
The point I am trying to get at is this. Anyone in a position of management with broadband companies, HAS to know that file sharing is a major use of these broadband connections. As such, it is a very important source of income for the ISPs, but it is as if they want to treat it like it's a dirty little secret. An anaology would be a city that depends a great deal on the taxes that "Adult Entertainment" establishments pay, but they want to hide them away and not acknowledge them.
It's about time that the ISPs face a few facts. P2P is the engine driving demand for broadband for many people. More ISPs need to start standing up for subscribers and opposing the attacks by the RIAA against their subscribers. SBC and Verizon have been to court against the RIAA, and I assert that ALL major ISPs need to do the same thing.
ONE HAND WASHES THE OTHER
Without broadband, digital download distribution of music and movies would never become feasible. On the other hand, without something to download, or upload,
fewer folks would be paying out the money to have a high speed connection.
Thus, there is a close relationship between the two.
CHOOSING DIGITAL DOWNLOAD MUSIC SERVICES
Customers need to remember, and remember well, who attacked them in 2003.
If digital music download service "xTunes" is in bed with the RIAA, and pays money
to the RIAA, people need to be aware of that association. It's clear that there are going to be lots of Digital Music Download Channels or Services which apparently will be offered by Wal*Mart, Microsoft, and many others, but, apparently, a portion of each sale is going to trickle back to the RIAA's labels.
BOYCOTT THE RIAA FOR CHRISTMAS
You don't buy the stick for someone to beat you with. Customers need to support those music services that supported them during 2003. As we move into this Christmas season, the big labels are going to need YOUR MONEY.
Remember the grinning face of Cary Sue when you are tempted to go buy that major artist CD for someone for Christmas. The boycott is still on, and during Christmas, we can make a bigger difference than we did back in the summer.
SUPPORT INDIE / SUPPORT DMUSIC
Support independent musicians, and most of all, support DMusic.com.
DMusic continues in the fight for rights of independent musicians and consumers,
and, DMusic continues to bring you the kind of news that the main networks
"forget" to report. With this in mind, think about supporting the artists of Dmusic.com and the site.
~Code