Due to the asymmetric nature of most end-user lines, 10Mbps of upload bandwidth seem far from modest. Around here you'd need a 100mbps (download) line, which is available but pricey, and as far as I know they're not even available in most of the world.
If you're talking about countries where this censorship is common, even a 10/1 line is probably not affordable by anyone except an elite.
I think in censored countries, a 10/1 line is essentially non-censored. The only people who would be getting that are government officials or company executives who are in bed with the government.
I think the premise of the article is flawed, because I have a 16/2 connection. I recently express mailed an envelope across country (GTA to Vancouver) and it took approximately 4 business days and cost me ~$12. To do this through the internet, we're looking at 1.5 days for my internet connection (assuming upload is the speed issue). Even at the average 10/1 connection, we're talking 3 days. Still beats mail, and god forbid you mail on a thursday and it takes 6-7 days to get the mail through. What about from Canada to Australia? Well an express letter, you're looking at 2 weeks if you're lucky.
Remember, this is only a product of our lazy ISPs happy to keep service where it is whilst bumping up prices. If Google Fibre has an effect on the market this discussion is meaningless. Up to 1gbps up and down. This discussion is meaningless if it only attains 10mbps upload, it won't even leave the post office in the time it would take to transfer.
The notion that SOPA et al will destroy the internet is a little absurd, all it will do is expand the darknet, which will cause rapid expansion.
Think what Tor would be if every computer in the world was on it and acting as a proxy. This is what governments will force to happen with restrictive legislation and our "controlled freedom" will become uncontrollable freedom.
Very true. I'm on "Superfast" broadband in the UK. That means 16Mbps down, 1.3Mbps up.
The only way to get 10Mbps up is to be on fibre-to-the-premises. And even then only if you live in one of the blessed areas.
ADSL supports up to 24Mbps down in the UK - assuming that you're (very) close to the exchange. I could theoretically get that with my old ISP, were I not 1.6km from the exchange.
Cable supports up to 100Mbs down (at least I'm pretty sure that Virgin has started to roll that out, if not then 50Mbs), though contention might be an issue at peak times.
I've got BT Infinity, which is fibre to the cabinet rather than all the way to the home. Since the distance to the cabinet is likely to be pretty minimal you can get pretty high bandwidth over the last length of telephone wire. For reference, I get 76Mbs down and 20+Mbs up - more than fast enough for plently of thing to feel instant, such as downloading movies which now takes in the order of minutes.
If you're talking about countries where this censorship is common, even a 10/1 line is probably not affordable by anyone except an elite.