经济学人244:互联网接入 网上的拥堵

　　Business
商业报道
Internet access
互联网接入
Congestion¹ on the line
网上的拥堵
Internet-service providers clamour for a fairer contribution from content firms
互联网服务提供商要求内容商的付出更加公平
THE raid by the European Commission's antitrust gumshoes this month on Orange,Deutsche Telekom and Telefónica of Spain seemed to come out of the blue.
欧盟委员会反托拉斯调查人员本月对Orange电信、德国电信和西班牙电信的突击调查事先显得毫无征兆。
The companies professed² a surprise verging³ on stupefaction.
这些公司莫名惊诧，全然不知所措。
Even some Brussels insiders were caught on the hop⁴.
即使布鲁塞尔的一些内部人士也是措手不及。
1111111111111_副本.jpgNaming no names, the commission said the inquiry⁵ involved internet connectivity.
委员会表示这次调查与互联网连接有关，但没有具体指名。
The question is whether entrenched⁶ telecoms firms are abusing their strength in the market for internet traffic to deny video-streaming websites and other content providers full access to their networks to reach consumers.
调查的问题是：强势的电信公司有没有滥用它们在互联网传输市场上的优势地位，拒绝给视频流网站和其他内容提供商到达消费者所需要的完全的网络接入。
Besides the content providers themselves, the other potential plaintiffs are the wholesalers that the content providers use to ship their data across borders.
除了内容提供商，其他可能的原告方是中间人。内容提供商利用中间人跨界传输数据。
These rely on incumbent⁸ internet-service providers such as Orange to take the data the last bit of the way to subscribers' screens and mobiles.
这要靠占据主导地位的互联网服务提供商，比如Orange，来完成数据传输到用户电脑屏幕和手机的最后一段路。
All eyes turned to Cogent⁹ Communications, an American wholesaler⁷ which handles data for the likes of YouTube.
所有人的眼光都转向了一家美国中间人公司：Cogent通信公司。这家公司处理YouTube以及类似网站的数据。
Cogent has complained, fruitlessly, to French and German regulators that their former monopolies were asking too much to handle data, and throttling¹⁰ the flow to consumers when bigger fees were not forthcoming.
Cogent曾徒劳地向法国和德国监管者抱怨它们以前的垄断者对处理数据要价太高，如果不能带来更高的收费，就限制传输给消费者的流量。
It is appealing against the French decision.
Cogent正在对法国判决提出上诉。
In theory Orange and the other network providers might simply pass on to their customers the cost of all their streaming and downloading of funny cat videos and porn.
理论上，Orange和其他网络提供商可以很简单地将它们传输和下载搞笑猫咪和色情视频的所有成本转嫁给它们的客户。
But Europe's market is fiercely competitive; and regulators place all sorts of constraints¹¹ on how networks can charge for their services, while haranguing¹² them to invest in new technology and new capacity to keep up with rising traffic.
但欧洲的市场竞争非常激烈，监管者对网络为它们的服务收费的方式设置了各种限制，同时喋喋不休地劝它们投资于新技术和新能力，以跟上流量不断增长的步伐。
Though there are similar spats¹³ in America, it looks to some Europeans like another example of the rape¹⁴ of the old continent by America's data-mining, tax-avoiding internet giants.
尽管在美国也有类似的争端，但在某些欧洲人看来，这只是旧大陆又一次被美国从事数据挖掘和避税的互联网巨头欺凌。
The broader issue—and the reason, perhaps, why the antitrust watchdogs chose to weigh in—is that Europe is on the brink¹⁵ of big regulatory change.
一个更大的问题是：欧洲正处于一场管制大变革的边缘，也许这也是反托拉斯监察机构选择介入的原因。
A draft law to be published in September will subtly alter the principle of net neutrality,the idea that companies which own the infrastructure¹⁶ cannot give priority to some traffic over that of others.
9月份即将公布的一项法律草案将对网络中立原则带来微妙的改变。这一原则要求拥有基础设施的公司不能偏向特定的流量，不利于其他流量。
This rule has fostered competition and kept prices down in Europe but has discouraged networks from investing.
这一规则在欧洲培育了竞争，压低了价格，但打消了这些公司进行投资的积极性。
The draft law will ban incumbents¹⁷ from blocking data from some sources,
这一法律草案将禁止占主导地位的运营商阻塞特定来源的数据，
but it will let them impose varying charges for different qualities of service for data sent through wholesalers.
但允许它们对通过中间人发送的数据服务的不同质量收取不同费用。
Together with other provisions in the package, this should encourage Europe's telecoms firms to invest in upgrading their networks, its authors hope.
制定者希望，这一规定和该法律草案的其他一些规定将鼓励欧洲的电信公司投资于网络升级。
But the commission's antitrust watchdogs are bound to be on guard against any moves that might reduce competition.
但委员会的反托拉斯监察机构下定决心，时刻提防任何可能削弱竞争的举动。
1.come out of v.由…产生，从…出来
Then why did you come out of their lair¹⁸?
那你为什么从他们的藏身处出来？
Does it mean you cannot come out of these brackets?
这是否意味着你再不能从括号中挣脱而出？
2.access to 有权使用
Coffee growers also needed better access to markets.
咖啡种植者也需要更好的途径进入市场。
Wto membership should at least provide greater access to foreign markets.
成为wto成员后至少能让他们更容易进入外国市场。
3.pass on 传递；去世；前进
I never felt stressed like that, but he did pass on his sense of adventure.
我从没感觉到那样压抑，但是他确实给我传递了他的冒险精神。
This is why cells like me feel an undeniable urge to pass on what we've figured out thus far.
这就是诸如我之类的个体感到有一种无可质疑的渴望，促使我们传递我们目前所领悟到的东西。
4.invest in 在…上投资，在…投入
Such pay structures encourage employees to invest in high-risk assets.
这样的薪酬结构会促使雇员投资高风险资产。
Invest in u. s.companies that do business in china.
投资于同中国有业务往来的美国公司。

1 congestion   

n.阻塞，消化不良

参考例句：

• The congestion in the city gets even worse during the summer.夏天城市交通阻塞尤为严重。
• Parking near the school causes severe traffic congestion.在学校附近泊车会引起严重的交通堵塞。

2 professed   

公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的

参考例句：

• These, at least, were their professed reasons for pulling out of the deal. 至少这些是他们自称退出这宗交易的理由。
• Her manner professed a gaiety that she did not feel. 她的神态显出一种她并未实际感受到的快乐。

3 verging   

接近，逼近（verge的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed understanding, verging on sympathy, for our approach. 他宣称对我们提出的做法很理解，而且近乎同情。
• He's verging on 80 now and needs constant attention. 他已近80岁，需要侍候左右。

4 hop   

n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过

参考例句：

• The children had a competition to see who could hop the fastest.孩子们举行比赛，看谁单足跳跃最快。
• How long can you hop on your right foot?你用右脚能跳多远？

5 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

6 entrenched   

adj.确立的，不容易改的(风俗习惯)

参考例句：

• Television seems to be firmly entrenched as the number one medium for national advertising.电视看来要在全国广告媒介中牢固地占据头等位置。
• If the enemy dares to attack us in these entrenched positions,we will make short work of them.如果敌人胆敢进攻我们固守的阵地，我们就消灭他们。

7 wholesaler   

n.批发商

参考例句：

• We're the largest furniture wholesaler in Illinois. 我们是伊利诺伊州最大的家具批发商。 来自辞典例句
• These are used to create profiles for each wholesaler. 这是他日常的工作或通过与批发商的正式会谈。 来自互联网

8 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

9 cogent   

adj.强有力的，有说服力的

参考例句：

• The result is a cogent explanation of inflation.结果令人信服地解释了通货膨胀问题。
• He produced cogent reasons for the change of policy.他对改变政策提出了充分的理由。

10 throttling   

v.扼杀( throttle的现在分词 )；勒死；使窒息；压制

参考例句：

• This fight scarf is throttling me. 这条束得紧紧的围巾快要把我窒息死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The latter may be used with bypass or throttling valves in the tower water pipework circuit. 近来，可采用在冷却塔的水管系统中设置旁通阀或节流阀。 来自辞典例句

11 constraints   

强制( constraint的名词复数 )； 限制； 约束

参考例句：

• Data and constraints can easily be changed to test theories. 信息库中的数据和限制条件可以轻易地改变以检验假设。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
• What are the constraints that each of these imply for any design? 这每种产品的要求和约束对于设计意味着什么？ 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

12 haranguing   

v.高谈阔论( harangue的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He continued in his customary, haranguing style. 他继续以他一贯的夸夸其谈的手法讲下去。 来自辞典例句
• That lady was still haranguing the girl. 那位女士仍然对那女孩喋喋不休地训斥。 来自互联网

13 spats   

n.口角( spat的名词复数 )；小争吵；鞋罩；鞋套v.spit的过去式和过去分词( spat的第三人称单数 )；口角；小争吵；鞋罩

参考例句：

• Gasoline is a solvent liquid that removes grease spats. 汽油是一种能脱去油迹的有溶解能力的液体。 来自辞典例句
• Then spats took a catnap, and the bird looked out for dogs. 然后斯派茨小睡了一会儿。小鸟为它站岗放哨，防止狗跑过来。 来自互联网

14 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

15 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

16 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

17 incumbents   

教区牧师( incumbent的名词复数 )； 教会中的任职者

参考例句：

• In general, incumbents have a 94 percent chance of being reelected. 通常现任官员有94%的几率会再次当选。
• This arangement yields a wonderful gain to incumbents. 这种安排为在职人员提供了意外的得益。

18 lair   

n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处

参考例句：

• How can you catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger's lair?不入虎穴，焉得虎子？
• I retired to my lair,and wrote some letters.我回到自己的躲藏处，写了几封信。