Net Neutrality Defend Thyself

Lately I've found that my Comcast cable modem is having a tough time finding Google.

I have the Google search bar. I enter the search term there. I hit enter. Then I wait. And wait. And wait.

On the other hand, if I enter Yahoo, everything goes much faster?

What's up? Has Comcast done a deal with Yahoo they are not telling me about? If they are, it's perfectly legal, because while net neutrality advocates can claim a draw in their battle with the Bells this year, only a victory could have prevented the Bells (and cable operators) from doing what they will.

In other words, they could already be screwing Google, they could tell you nothing, and there is nothing you can do about it. Chances are your only choices for broadband connectivity are the cable operator and the Bellco. If they're both doing the same deal, what are you supposed to do?

So far there has been a lot of talk about using a SET@Home approach to this, but that's all it is -- talk.

• Here's a New Scientist piece that appears to promise it, but the details are hidden behind a paid firewall.
• Here's Cory Doctorow saying let's do it, but no indication that anyone has followed up.
• Craig Newmark (of Craigslist) tells TechDirt he likes the idea, but there's nothing here or at his own cnewmark.com blog to indicate anything has happened.
• Meanwhile, any such program needs a business model. The original SETI@Home project has begun begging for funds.

Now, I think Google could do this for a relative pittance. So could any other large company (such as Level3) that wants to fight violations of network neutrality.

But talk is cheap. When are we going to see some action?

We could be getting screwed right now and not know it.