The internet and telecom giants Verizon and Google have reportedly reached an agreement to impose a tiered system for accessing the internet. The deal would enable Verizon to charge for quicker access to online content over wireless devices, a violation of the concept of net neutrality that calls for equal access to all services. The deal comes amidst closed-door meetings between the Federal Communications Commission and major telecom giants on crafting new regulations. In a statement, the media reform group Free Press criticized the Google-Verizon deal, saying, “The financial interests of Google appear to have finally trumped its belief in policies to preserve the open Internet…The Federal Communications Commission cannot stand by and allow the biggest market players to create two Internets.”
-Reported on Democracy Now-
Update: Aug 5 2010.. Google has responded to all the headlines and reports about their conversations w/ Verizon.. They are saying they still back Net Neutrality , however, they are still in talks with Verizon… I encourage folks to follow all this carefully and read the articles below to familiarize yourself with Net Neutrality…
Here’s Googles response.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9180192/Google_We_still_back_Net_neutrality
I can’t even began to tell you how troubling this is.. Its been all but absent on the morning newscasts who seem more enamored with a man we don’t know being discovered he was married on Facebook. Meanwhile I feel bad for artists who found the Net to be saving grace. Its just a matter of time before corporate backed major labels start following suit thus relegating indy artist to the slow lanes of the internet.. Remember we been speaking on this for a minute. With Google throwing down the gauntlet to cut a deal with telecoms versus continue fighting to protect Net Neutrality, one can see that day looming. I encourage folks to call their congress people and push them hard..And if Net Neutrality falls by the wayside be sure to blame all those Civil Right orgs who lined up with AT&T to help kill it in return for sponsorship of events and perceived HNIC status
He who controls the flow of information sets the tone..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWt0XUocViE
Please pay attention to what Senator Al Franken is saying Net Neutrality is the First Amendment Right of our Time..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LncSB5pMBU
Reported Verizon-Google Deal Means FCC Must Act to Set Public Interest Policy
R.I.P. Google ‘Don’t Be Evil’ Policy
WASHINGTON – Reports today indicate that a deal between Verizon and Google on Internet traffic management is forthcoming, and could be announced as early as Monday. According to Bloomberg News, the companies have agreed to abandon Net Neutrality protections on the mobile Internet. It remains unclear what the terms are for wired services.
At the same time, the Federal Communications Commission is convening closed-door meeting with companies to determine policies for the Internet.
Free Press president and CEO Josh Silver made the following statement:
“Two of the largest companies – Google and Verizon – have reportedly agreed to abandon consumer protections, filter content and limit choice and free speech on the mobile Internet. If true, the deal is a bold grab for market power by two monopolistic players. Such abuse of the open Internet would put to final rest the Google mandate to ‘don’t be evil.’
“If reports are accurate, such a deal would effectively create two Internets where application and content innovators have to ask Verizon and Google for permission to reach mobile Internet customers. Such a deal would make it more difficult for independent and diverse speakers to reach a broad audience and diminish the value of the mobile Internet as a new marketplace for ideas. It would mean that mobile consumers would no longer be able to access the same websites, applications and software as anyone else on the Internet.
“The financial interests of Google appear to have finally trumped its belief in policies to preserve the open Internet. A deal with Verizon cements its market power, and could make it more difficult for new app developers and software entrepreneurs to reach consumers.
“Congress and the FCC must act now to put consumers, entrepreneurs and the public interest ahead of the interests of these individual corporations. The agency must reject this framework and end the closed-door stakeholder negotiations it is now holding. The FCC cannot stand by and allow the biggest market players to create two Internets, it must enact real Net Neutrality protections that preserve openness for all Internet users, regardless of technology. We look to the FCC and Congress to deliver on President Obama’s pledge to protect Net Neutrality and promote universal access to broadband.”
Earlier I mentioned a mjor death blow was Traditional Civil Rights groups getting snookered , caving in or selling out to AT&T and Big telecoms. Here is a list of some of them..
Urban League Chapter
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408309
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400790
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400568
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408157
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400510
National Lesbian and Gay Chamber of Commerce
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408718
Hispanic Federation
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408716
LISTA
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408720
Latino community Foundation in San Francisco
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408354
Native Americans
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408711
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408291
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408712
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408704
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408709
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408717
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408708
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408713
NAACP in California
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408307
Jesse Jackson Rainbow Push
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408211
Texas State Rep. Robert Alonzo
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408179
MANA, A National Latino Organization
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400566
100 Black Men of South Metro
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400798
100 Black Men of Mobile
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020401015
100 Black Men of Greater Mobile
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020401015
ASPIRA
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400339
100 Black Men of Tennessee
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400506
100 Black Men of Orlando
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400502
HTTP
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400970
Hispanic Interests Coalition of Alabama
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020401020
SER: Jobs for Progress
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400060
NAACP Mar-Saline Branch
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020399888
Japanese American Citizens League
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020399819
Organization of Chinese Americans
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020399334
Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies
Rep. Yvette Clarke
Net Neutrality legislation will do nothing more than give the gov’t control over the internet. There will be heavy legislation and regulations over every ISP, running most out of business under the sheer weight of paperwork alone. Gov’t has not entered into any industry without bringing along price increases, it’s the trademark indication of gov’t intervention.
Here’s an idea, keep the gov’t out, and allow Verizon and Google to do their little back room deal. It’s a material change to the cell phone contract so people will be able to leave without penalty, and they can go to another provider who doesn’t play this b.s. Yeah, it might be difficult for some, and if AT&T goes onboard with it, then we’d have to move again… Or possibly just move to using cell-phones as phones and not internet devices. Companies ARE responsive to customers leaving or cutting off service, especially when it happens en-masse.
I know it seems like a headache to vote with your dollars, but look back, everytime the gov’t gets involved, they don’t get out. If they impose their so-called net neutrality legislation, you will never see the internet as you once did. People will no longer be able to just throw up websites, the barrier to entry into the ISP realm will be outrageous, and we’ll be stuck with the big providers. Internet will turn into the TV, where we only get what is fed to us… Freedom of speech will be shot, as far as digitally.
We don’t need verizon, and we don’t need Google. As great as their services are, we can abandon them both.
Obviously Mike You dont understand Net neutrality..First there is regulations over ISPs. and second all data should be treated the same.. Ur message is no more important then mine and we should both have our material accessible.. the difference should be who promotes better not who can pay not just verizon or AT &T but every single ISP that decides they want to set up tolls.. If you dont get that basic principal then I can only conclude your rolling with the coprs which is bad news all the way around
“There will be heavy legislation and regulations over every ISP, running most out of business under the sheer weight of paperwork alone.”
uh, mike, establishing non-discriminatory federally mandated guidelines guaranteeing affordable access for all americans will NOT put AT&T nor Verizon out of business.
“If they impose their so-called net neutrality legislation, you will never see the internet as you once did. People will no longer be able to just throw up websites, the barrier to entry into the ISP realm will be outrageous, and we’ll be stuck with the big providers. Internet will turn into the TV, where we only get what is fed to us… Freedom of speech will be shot, as far as digitally.”
you have this entirely backwards. We cannot trust ISPs to protect freedom of speech as their policies have already resulted in censorship and restrictions to traffic based on content.
the notion that ISPs somehow support the First Amendment and NN threatens it is complete hogwash, despite what Phil Kerpen and Fox news say.
i’m calling BS on this one.
unless you can cite any relevant statistical information,evidence or proof which lends any credibility to your outlandish claims, i’m gonna have to write you off as a telecomm troll.
Though mike’s comment may sound a bit sus and extreme, I do feel where he’s coming from:
do I wanna put my trust (and my internets) in government or corporate?
I understand how the government is SUPPOSED to act and regulate things equally, but once things don’t go their way, who’s the first to suffer? The poor. And we know corporations are SUPPOSED to keep their consumers (us, for the most part) at the top of their totem pole, but once things don’t go their way, who’s the first to suffer? The poor. Lets not act like the internet is a different sector.
so my poor behind seems to be screwed either way.
but seriously, no matter who is in control of the internet we ALL better hold these folks accountable we things don’t go our way.
Star u are the govt.. U are not the corporation.. big difference.. sadly they seem to understand this, so while folks like Mike tell us to screw the gov’t..(disengage) the corps go and talk to elected officials and push for what hey want..
Most of us are not on the boards of any corporation.. so we dont have say so in their governance.. I do have a vote and I can run for office..
Lets stop this craziness abt the govt.. and roll up our sleeves and change it.. Unless you or Mike plan to be blowing buildings, enacting a Coup or leaving the country, then some sort of political agitation and leveraging is going to be our most viable tactic for a host of issues.
Economic boycotts of a multinational corp are ineffective in 2010.. What are we gonna do boycott comcast cable while watching a concert at Comcast areana or watching NBC (soon to be owned by Comcast) or shopping in a mall owned by comcast..
Ideally we do both boycott and then run for office so we can make a sound decision.. But simply telling me the govt is evil s about as effective as telling the tooth fairy will bring me money for my teeth..
Davey,
Why do you believe economic boycotts are ineffective in 2010? We can’t have it both ways. We support the corporations by buying their products and they take the profit and control the government/legislative process. Are the people not financing entities that are against their self interest? You can’t beg “the man” for jobs and fight against “the man” at the same time! Even the piece from Democracy Now states that, “the financial interest of Goggle appear to have finally trumped its belief in policies to preserve the open internet”. He who has the gold makes the rules. We the people better find some gold and get to creating!
I said attempting to economically boycott a company that has many ties via other companies is ineffective.. Its like when people wanted to boycott a station like MEL, here in the Bay.. They were screaming boycott while going to the concert venues and going to the nightclub that station owned.. behind the scenes, folks positioned insulated themselves from financial damage by beefing up other properties that were embraced by boycotters..
As far as begging for jobs.. I don’t know how that entered into the convo.. we’re talking about making sure an entity that we depend upon to communicate is accessible and that when you send out info folks on the other end, that your info isn’t being blocked. The problem if a law passes is not gonna be with the big telecoms but with every single ISP who may decide they too wanna charge fees and slow down traffic..
How did Google “Sell out”?.. when were they ever “seling in”?.. Is this yet another attempt at Davet D demagogery?
Davey,
The statement about begging for jobs is metaphor. The point being is many people work for corporations/jobs to provide their basic necessitaties,i.e, food,clothing, shelter, transportation. This same corporations are the ones people are asked to fight against, when we both know people are sacred to death of those consequences! Sports owners finance many right wing/evangelical movements to the detriment of their sports fans and cities. What else is new? I understand and agree with the fight regarding net neutrality. I just don’t understand how we are going to fight this battle without economic independence. How can we give our hard earned money back to the entities that we’re fighting against? That’s a serious trade deficit. If we can’t discipline/manage the money we do have, then how do we expect to create a counterforce to powerful corporations? For me net neutrality is a battle in a much larger war!
“I understand and agree with the fight regarding net neutrality. I just don’t understand how we are going to fight this battle without economic independence. How can we give our hard earned money back to the entities that we’re fighting against? That’s a serious trade deficit. If we can’t discipline/manage the money we do have, then how do we expect to create a counterforce to powerful corporations? For me net neutrality is a battle in a much larger war!”
that’s exactly right. this is precisely why NN must be upheld, because without it, many doors to economic independence and opportunity will be closed. unfortunately, we already give these corporations much of our income. then they take that money and use it to pay for lobbyists to influence legislation against the public interest.
i personally find the “small government” argument against NN laughable and somewhat naive, since telecomms (and their coalition partners–banks, cell phone makers, defense contractors, etc) want both monopolistic rule with no competition and corporate welfare, i.e. gov’t handouts in the form of subsidies and tax breaks.
ask yourself: who needs economic stimulus more? underserved communities and small businesses or large corporations, some of whom have a profit margin of 80 percent?
btw, we should also be wary of the NBC/Comcast merger coming down the pike…
Escribblah,
I agree 100%. Like minded and like spirited people must continue to come up with solutions.
Nice Good Videos Here Enjoyed It…
how are do you?
great.. nice video.. well