Filters are for coffee, and now, the internet

A recently formed lobby of somewhat respectable names in the world of technology and other things, AT&T, Cisco Systems, Microsoft, NBC Universal, Viacom, and Songwriters Guild of America, have grouped up to become a new tech lobby called Art+Labs, with the intent of asking internet service providers to, "manage and expand their networks to defend against net pollution and illegal file-trafficking which threatens to congest and delay the network for all consumers."

They all of course have their own individual gains for forming this lobby. NBC and the Songwriters Guild want to be sure that they receive payment for the usage of their programs and songs, AT&T wants to reduce peer-to-peer traffic, and Cisco will get business by producing the filtering software.

This is a story that caught my as an avid internet user. I'm somewhat conflicted on this topic, because while I support some parts, I'm opposed to others. I'm all for reducing net pollution to end congestion and to increase overall speed and usability. On the other hand, I'm a big fan and supporter of peer-to-peer file sharing, I feel that it's an important step in advancing the way we use the internet.

In the end, I'm not sure how much support will be gained by this lobby, as the internet is still a fairly new form of media, and how exactly it should be regulated, if at all, is still kind of unknown. I personally feel that we should have as much freedom with it as possible, it's up to the users to make it as it should be. It shouldn't have to be policed and regulated.

Original article http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/09/entertainment-l.html