Sunday, December 6, 2009
Comcast Buys NBC
I found this article at Wired.com that was recently posted, Comcast Buys NBC, Clouding Online TV’s Future. This merger raises an interesting point. In this class, we have discussed the idea of "Who Controls the Network?" In this merger of these two very large and influential companies in the media business, we are seeing the integration of a company that creates content and one that gives access to content. By combining these two companies, both net neutrality (by a company that already has had its hand slapped by the FCC for its dubious throttling practices) and free speech are threatened. If this deal goes through, it may be argued that Comcast/NBC will control the network. In the article, it describes a scenario where tv shows posted online created by NBC might only be accessible through a Comcast connection. This is only one of many possible dire outcomes of such a substantial merging of a content provider and service provider.
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Comcast buying NBC brings a great point in the future about internet providers controlling the internet. This can start a big argument for other providers that has been getting in trouble for throbing and being able to control the network more. Like katherine said if this goes through, the nation does not know what can happen next. This could really be the end of the internet. But in my opinion this will not go through, because it will cause a huge conrtroversy with other providers trying to conrtol what they want to control. Everything will be in the hands of network providers, such as; television, blogging, facebook, email, music, and many more things. It can interfere with our freedom of speech and put the internet in high risk.
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