Is The Google-Verizon Deal Against Net Neutrality?

August 5, 2010

The debate over the struggle to keep the Net open continues as Google eyes Web traffic deal with Verizon.

Today the New York Times came in strongly against the search engine provider accusing both Google and Verizon are on the verge of signing an agreement for speedier content deliver.

The agreement would let Verizon accelerate content delivery to consumers provided that online publishers pay for it.

By publishers, we are talking of services like YouTube, who would get priority over others when it comes to content delivery over the Verizon Network. A network, by the way, that is amongst one of the top Internet service providers in the United States. The payment will be made by the owner of the content, Google in this case.

The flip side? Wave goodbye to net neutrality.

Here are some reasons why I think this could prove harmful for the rest of us:

  1. Consumers will get charged extra for faster content delivery;
  2. Preference to one content over another on the basis of one being free and the other being paid for;
  3. It would mean an end to the FCC control over Internet Service Providers (ISPs), which I know some wouldn’t mind that much!

In addition, quite a few Verizon phones run on Google’s Android mobile operating system, which further gives credence to speculations that Google might try to seek preferred treatment from Verizon.

In response, Verizon stated this on its blog:

The NYT article regarding conversations between Google and Verizon is mistaken.  It fundamentally misunderstands our purpose. As we said in our earlier FCC filing, our goal is an Internet policy framework that ensures openness and accountability, and incorporates specific FCC authority, while maintaining investment and innovation. To suggest this is a business arrangement between our companies is entirely incorrect.

While Google response on the Guardian was:

The New York Times is quite simply wrong. We have not had any conversations with Verizon about paying for carriage of Google traffic. We remain as committed as we always have been to an open internet.

The deal in my opinion is about winning extra bandwidth to promote better utilization of speed and improved content delivery. Improved speed and higher bandwidth would bolt users with higher service rate and ensure the Internet is monopolized.

Is Google finally evil?

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Posted by TechPulse 360

Oracle Chief Opposes Net Neutrality

October 6, 2009
Net neutrality is bad for competition argues Oracles chief

Net neutrality is bad for competition argues Oracle's chief

Larry Ellison sided with operators on net neutrality, a position that was largely overlooked during his last appearance at the Churchill Club last month.

The Oracle chief argued that letting the U.S. government regulate pricing on carriers’ networks is wrong, favouring Google and the likes and ultimately stifling competition.

“I think it’s very dangerous for the government to engage in pricing for companies…  In general I believe in free markets and this is the case where government regulation is not necessary,” said Ellison.

Here’s the video excerpt where the Oracle CEO discusses his views on net neutrality:

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Posted by TechPulse 360

BT Group Could Rekindle Net Neutrality Debate

June 12, 2009

BT Group, the European telecom giant and owner of British Telecommunication, has admitted to throttling back speeds of the BBC video content player, iPlayer.

BT admits to throttling back traffic for the BBC video player

BT admits to throttling back traffic for the BBC video player

Now it says it wants content providers to help shoulder the financial burden of delivering video and other high-bandwidth data streams to Internet consumers.

This is exactly the type of arm-twisting proponents of net neutrality reform hoped to avoid. Recently, the momentum behind net-neutrality legislation in the U.S. has begun to pick up.

Supporters cite President Obama’s recent statement that the Internet should be “open and free” as an indication he is behind such an initiative. Obama made the comment during a speech about Internet security.

Now it is likely these backers of an initiative will have new ammunition in the BT controversy, even thought BT does not provide Internet-access in the U.S.

An article on Silicon.com notes that a BT spokesperson on Thursday admitted the company “throttles video traffic to 896 Kbps for Option 1 customers between 5 p.m. and midnight.”

As video traffic increases, it is unsustainable for ISPs to pick up the bill, the spokesperson goes on to say.

In the U.S., both Barack Obama’s nominee to head the Federal Communications Commission, Julius Genachowski, and the new leader of the Federal Trade Commission, Jon Leibowitz, are backers of net neutrality. In addition, Democrats run key committees in Congress.

As a result, don’t be surprised to see legislation coming from Washington and don’t be surprised to hear the BT flap waved about in the process.

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Posted by Mark Boslet

Tech Policy Under Obama: Broadband, Net Neutrality, Diverse Ownership

January 26, 2009

The new administration’s Web site went up over the weekend and here is what America’s new, tech-savvy president has to say about technology:

Let us be the generation that reshapes our economy to compete in the digital age

Let us be the generation that reshapes our economy to compete in the digital age

*Protect the Openness of the Internet: Support the principle of network neutrality to preserve the benefits of open competition on the Internet.

*Encourage Diversity in Media Ownership: Encourage diversity in the ownership of broadcast media (and) promote the development of new media outlets for expression of diverse viewpoints.

*Deploy Next-Generation Broadband: Work towards true broadband in every community in America through a combination of reform of the Universal Service Fund, better use of the nation’s wireless spectrum, promotion of next-generation facilities, technologies and applications, and new tax and loan incentives. America should lead the world in broadband penetration and Internet access.

*Invest in the Sciences: Double federal funding for basic research over ten years, changing the posture of our federal government to one that embraces science and technology.

“Let us be the generation that reshapes our economy to compete in the digital age.” Barack Obama, February 2007

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Posted by Mark Boslet

Comcast: Microsoft Sells Shares While The FCC Investigates Net Neutrality Case

January 20, 2009

Comcast may be illegally favoring its own Internet phone service over rival services that use its cable lines, the Federal Communications Commission said in a letter sent to the company two days ago.

FCC Looks at Comcasts treatment of VoIP services

FCC Looks at Comcast's treatment of VoIP services

The letter states that in a September report to the FCC, Comcast explained that if a consumer using a majority of his or her bandwidth for various purposes made a VoIP call, that “VoIP call sounds choppy.”

However, Comcast’s Web site suggests the company’s own VoIP service would not suffer this same degradation, the FCC points out.

In its letter, it asked for an explanation of the discrepancy.  Under federal regulations, Comcast’s Internet phone service – if it uses separate transmission facilities – might be subject to regulation as a phone service.

If not, the company would likely have to offer a similar quality of service to rivals. A complaint triggering the FCC’s investigation was filed by Free Press, a non-profit, and Public Knowledge, an organization of lawyers, lobbyists and academics.

Meanwhile, Microsoft disclosed in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Friday that it sold its 7.3 percent stake in the Comcast’s Class A common stock.

Microsoft purchased the shares in 1997 when it was interested in winning a position for its software in set-top boxes. The business gamble didn’t play out.

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Posted by Mark Boslet

Senator Vows Time For Net Neutrality Bill Is Now, Report Says

November 14, 2008

Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota will introduce net neutrality legislation again next year, according to a report. Ars Technica says the senator’s telecom aid confirmed he will put forth a bill.

Read the story: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081114-leave-net-neutrality-to-the-fcc-no-way-says-senator.html

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Posted by Mark Boslet

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