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How about bid on a variable price per bit? Just like is done with bitcoin transactions. If you are sending an important file, in an important conference call, or are receiving an important download that you don't want to wait long for, then you choose to pay more to get faster and more reliable service, but if you are streaming a youtube or doing something in the background, then you select a lower price for moderate speed & reliability.


You're describing the exact thing net neutrality seeks to prevent--pricing based on the type of data being sent.

I think it's dangerous to let those with deep pockets prioritize their traffic over mine.


> "it's dangerous to let those with deep pockets prioritize their traffic over mine"

If only a finite amount of bandwidth is available to the world, then yes, the rich will be able to spend more to take bandwidth from us.

However more cable can always be added, so what would actually happen is that the pie would grow.


> However more cable can always be added, so what would actually happen is that the pie would grow.

This assumption is the same one behind energy grids, and assumes an ideal world with no bad actors.

Instead, what happens is that incumbent players with the deepest pockets buy up all the (relevant) competition and then corner the market on capacity.


That sounds like a user-hostile, free market dystopia.




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