Exempting popular apps from data charges is anti-competitive

My carrier (T-Mobile) exempts streaming music services. It doesn't charge for the exemption and any music service can sign up for it, but it's still against net neutrality principles. It's better than AT&T's method, but only by a little. However, when they started this, I was able to cut from an unlimited plan to just 1GB/mo, and never suffer overages.

Do I disagree with it? On principle, yes. But I'm going to keep disagreeing with it while simultaneously using it as a way to lower my bill while getting around silly and even more innovation-stifling (IMO) data caps and high price mobile broadband.

Private shared transportation does not have nearly the same incumbent advantage. Anyone can build or buy a bus, and move people around. There is not Facebook to pay lots of money to ensure that competitors are locked out of providing a similar service.

Moreover, users actually get meaningful choices when it comes to which car or bus to take. ISPs are more like roads, a utility where the options (in many places) are very limited.

Have you heard of the GM streetcar conspiracy?( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_conspi... )

That doesn't make sense in this context though - the analogy breaks down.

The reason why regulation is useful is because unregulated companies collude, form monopolies, fix prices, and eventually kill innovation and prey on their customers. Regulation is a useful tool to provide an even playing field.

Sure, customers may be satisfied with a walled garden now, but how did facebook / twitter / netflix flourish? Using unbiased network traffic. We shouldn't shut the door on new startups.

Regulation doesn't just appear out of nowhere. It happens because bad things were happening before the regulations were put in place.

You are right, those two are not easily separable.