While I understand NN is a hot topic in these past few months, I'm having a hard time understanding the connection here. Are we suggesting that there should be some sort of mandated cross-platform compatibility requirement for all cloud video services on all devices? Meaning, do we really want to require that Google provides access to all YouTube content on everyone's device? What if I post a video on my own homepage, am I then required to make it available on all devices?
I think both Google and Amazon are acting like jerks here, but I can't think of federal-level rules I'd change or put into place that wouldn't make things worse.
> Meaning, do we really want to require that Google provides access to all YouTube content on everyone's device? What if I post a video on my own homepage, am I then required to make it available on all devices?
No, I think the point is once you've uploaded the video, please don't single out a particular device and actively prohibit access. Web is Web. Let the Web clients make Web calls to Web content. (I'm referring to them actively blocking the workaround which was to access the regular Web version.)
Except it doesn't, by definition. It's "Network neutrality", not "absolutely anything anybody thinks of when they say 'The Net' neutrality."
Similarly, "Road Neutrality" only applies to actual roads. It doesn't mean the local McDonald's has to let anybody could use their drive-thru for any reason, or that you're allowed to park in your neighbor's driveway, or that you can freely wander around a NASCAR track.
Fair enough. In this case, "Road Neutrality" protects the consumer's access to a restaurant or bank. However, in reality there are civil rights laws that in turn forbid those restaurants and banks from refusing service to customers based on their ethnicity and gender.
I don't think it's a stretch, if we're comparing Networks to roads, to also compare network services like Google and Youtube to public accomodations like restaurants, hotels and banks, and discuss a set of protected classes for internet nondiscrimination.
