It looks like we’re down to 2 or 3 public internet service providers, depending on how you count. Comcast seems to be taking the lead on assuming ownership of it’s tubes, and redefining what “internet service” really means – web access and e-mail (httpd, snmp) to partner sites and services, using approved devices.

IP will transition from the defining protocol of the Internet, to being merely a convenient implementation of services. Independent web sites like this one will be replaced by Facebook pages.

Am I being alarmist? What about the FCC in the US? What about the rest of the world? Can these large media corporations be stopped from turning the Internet into Cable 2.0?

I don’t see nearly enough consumer unhappiness or even awareness of this issue. So long as these services are “faster”, “higher speed”, people seem to be happy.

At best, the present public internet will fragment into layers, some AOL-like services, some private corporate, and perhaps some underground networks beyond control of media corporations.