Tonight I will be appearing on
The Inside Scoop, a nationally syndicated TV and radio show. The subject is "net neutrality" - the democratic organizing principle of the Internet that treats all content providers alike from giants like Google to the lone blogger to the websites of advocacy groups like commoncause.org. I am told they are looking to invite a representative from the telecommunications lobby to debate me on the issue. I hope they find someone because as I would welcome the opportunity. I think their arguments are specious and pretty transparent.
Large phone and cable companies like Verizon and AT&T want to charge not only consumers for access to the Internet, but also those who create websites (content providers) for bringing those customers to them. They would provide the largest bandwidth and highest speeds to the content providers who can pay them the most. Those who can't pay them will get put in the "slow lane," destroying the democratic nature of the Internet and creating a pay-as-you-go system. If they get their way, the Internet that we know today will be a thing of the past and it is likely future generations won't believe us when we tell them that once upon a time anyone could post content and big businesses were on a par with small businesses, and anyone could gin up a blog if they wanted to.
What sort of deceptions are the telecoms peddling through their Astroturf groups like "HandsOffTheInternet," propped up with money from AT&T, BellSouth, and Cingular among others?
1. Telecom companies say the rules are unnecessary because a free marketplace would punish companies that would try to block customers from the content and services they want.
We say if you really believe that, why not codify it into law? In fact we wouldn't be having this conversation at all right now if it weren't for a bad decision by the Federal Communications Commission last summer that undid long standing rule pertaining to the neutrality of telecommunication networks. We want the same rules that the Internet has operated on so far that have helped it to become one of the most innovative human communications tools in history.
2. Telecom companies say they are making a huge investment in building out broadband networks and they have to recoup their costs or it will discourage investment and retard innovation on the Internet.
We say consumers are already paying for Internet access and the profit margins of telecommunications companies are repeatedly in the top 10 of all major industries. Also, these companies have had little to do with the creation of the Internet, which was funded by taxpayer dollars. They don't have a right to double dip, charging Internet users and content providers.
3. Telecom companies say that "net neutrality" is a solution in search of a problem.
We say that violations of the "net neutrality" rules have already happened. For example, AOL made a pitch to charge for sending emails a while back. A coalition called "Dear AOL" formed to oppose it, and
AOL was accused of blocking emails that contained a link to the Dear AOL Coalition's website in order to undermine their efforts. This is one of a few examples of violations of net neutrality that have emerged in recent months.
To learn more about the deceptive arguments put forward by the telecommunications companies check out the website of our coalition partners
here. And don't forget to read our report
Wolves in Sheep's Clothing that outlines what the Astroturf groups are up to.
Stay tuned for a podcast from tonight's show.
