Conducted by Opinion Research Corp. for the New Millennium Research Council, the survey of 2,005 Americans found that 39 percent of those with contract-based cellphones are likely to cut back their service to save money if the economy gets worse over the next six months.

The study also found that 26 percent of those with contract-based phones would be more inclined today than six months ago to look at alternatives, including switching to a pre-paid plan. The survey found that five percent of American mobile phone users have considered cutting back on extra services like Web access, email and texting, while 15 percent have already cut back on such services in the last six months. Of those users who are using data services, 41 percent say they would be “somewhat” or “very” likely to cut back if the economy worsens.

In perhaps their most startling finding, in the original version of their news release today, the NMRC and Opinion Research claim asserted that 35 million Americans have already discontinued cellphone service in the last six months due to job loss, fear of job loss, the recession or other financial concerns. But that assertion was ridiculous on the face; I called them on it, and they’ve now issued a correction.

Read the rest of this post

No surprise, then, that the report argues that emerging Web video offerings could someday cripple Internet traffic, if Internet service providers aren’t allowed to maximize the bandwidth and efficiency of their networks. “Careful attention should be paid to any new regulation which might adversely impact the business case for Internet investment or set preference for one business model over another,” the report warns. “Regulators should not inhibit Internet service providers’ flexibility to experiment with new traffic-management technologies and strategies in order to efficiently deliver new services with the quality and security options that Internet users desire.”

“Regulators should not inhibit Internet service providers’ flexibility to experiment with new traffic technologies and strategies.” In other words, the government should not put Net neutrality permanently into law. Which, presumably, would leave ISPs, like the report’s underwriter AT&T, in a position to create the two-tiered Internet for which they’ve been lobbying–an Internet where the speed and efficiency of data transmission would be determined by who’s willing to pay the most.

Which some say is a frightening thought. ” … I believe a huge amount of the vibrancy of the Internet comes from commercial enterprise,” IOActive’s Dan Kaminsky told eWeek. “If we go to a king-maker model, nobody will be able to safely invest, and all existing models will die on the vine. It doesn’t matter if you create the best system. It doesn’t matter if users really like you. Because someone else will show up and pay more than you will.”

No surprise, then, that the report argues that emerging Web video offerings could someday cripple Internet traffic, if Internet service providers aren’t allowed to maximize the bandwidth and efficiency of their networks. “Careful attention should be paid to any new regulation which might adversely impact the business case for Internet investment or set preference for one business model over another,” the report warns. “Regulators should not inhibit Internet service providers’ flexibility to experiment with new traffic-management technologies and strategies in order to efficiently deliver new services with the quality and security options that Internet users desire.”

“Regulators should not inhibit Internet service providers’ flexibility to experiment with new traffic technologies and strategies.” In other words, the government should not put Net neutrality permanently into law. Which, presumably, would leave ISPs, like the report’s underwriter AT&T, in a position to create the two-tiered Internet for which they’ve been lobbying–an Internet where the speed and efficiency of data transmission would be determined by who’s willing to pay the most.

Which some say is a frightening thought. ” … I believe a huge amount of the vibrancy of the Internet comes from commercial enterprise,” IOActive’s Dan Kaminsky told eWeek. “If we go to a king-maker model, nobody will be able to safely invest, and all existing models will die on the vine. It doesn’t matter if you create the best system. It doesn’t matter if users really like you. Because someone else will show up and pay more than you will.”