Google Waves The Antitrust Threat Stick To Protect Neutrality
from the yeah,-good-luck-with-that... dept
The net neutrality battle continues to take its inevitable twists and turns. Back when the telcos were threatening to charge Google extra to reach their subscribers, some people suggested that Google should call the telcos' bluff and tell them they wouldn't pay -- which is pretty much exactly what happened. Now that it looks like there won't be net neutrality language in any new telco bills, Google is making it clear that if it finds out a telco is trying to break net neutrality, it might just file antitrust charges against that telco. It's not quite the same threat as using eminent domain to take over telco assets, but it could have the same overall impact: scaring the telcos straight. Of course, that assumes the telcos are actually worried about an antitrust suit. In reality, they probably realize that any such lawsuit would take many, many years -- and by the time it was all decided, it wouldn't much matter any more.
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I wonder what would happen if Google stopped providing services to a single ISP's subscribers? People don't sign for an ISP because they want another wire stuck in the side of their house, the sign up because of the CONTENT available on the Internet, the ISP's have to face facts that a large proportion of that content comes via Google. Maybe they should be paying Google for providing content, just like they have to pay the TV companies to use their content?
Good luck Google.
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Telecos....
Its not the ISP's that Google is threatening here. Its the Telecos that supply the network. Like in britan we have BT as our teleco, although you are free to go with any ISP you like. The good thing here is BT hasnt tried to go against net neutrality.... yet.
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Good point, Simon
It would sure help to let the telecos know that the tail is NOT wagging the dog.
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NN
If telcos mess with us...there will be a digital revolution of unimaginable scale...
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Re: Telecos....
w00t, that's not how it works here in America. Most of us can only 'choose' a teleco for our ISP. Apparently we don't believe in competition for internets.
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Re:
It is possible that the big content (Google, Yahoo, etc) providers could block traffic through a certain Telco's network as well as that Telco's ISP networks. This of course maybe illegal as well. They could say that if they have to pay then they will not provide them content. This also may lead to a Balkanized US internet with unpredictable results.
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Whatever
Just like Google was going to push antitrust action against Microsoft because of the freaking search bar in IE7?
Dear Google,
I'd like to see more concentration on your alledgedly "core business" of search (more and more of my results are worthless spam that's been SEO'd out the ying-yang), while at the same time fewer pronouncements from your lawyers and fewer shite products like Google Page Creator and Google Checkout.
Sincerely,
n00b
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Re: Re:
I'd say the results would be pretty obvious: mass migration to a telco/isp whose content is not being blocked.
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net neutrality duel
The Motley Fool has published a Duel on net neutrality. You can read it for yourself here: http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/commentary06063004.htm?ref=foolwatch
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2006 Internet is neutral
2007 telcos start limiting services to unaffiliated content providers
2007 unaffiliated content providers file anti trust lawsuits
2008 supreme court decides for telco's with caviat that intense regulation is the only way to make sure telco's are behaving ethically.
2009 your Internet bill resembes your cellular phone bill.
2010 you have to buy a 2 year contract with verizon or AT&T in order to get a 'free' computer that is "compatible" with the Verizon or AT&T internet. stay tuned for customizable computer skins that match your personality.
2012 amid complaints of bad customer support, loading, dumping, bait and switch tactics from telco dealers, (franchises) government leverages a 2.8% tax on your internet bill to create a watchdog committee on these issues.
2015 US government enacts the Computer Portability Act - where you can keep your same computer and computer SIM card to move from AT&T to carrier of choice without losing your email address and storage.
2016 US government enacts anti-spam really we mean it anti spam bill that prosecutes anyone from sending you spam. charges only 1% tax for this service.
2020 US government deregulates the Internet and bills skyrocket.
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Re: Telecos....
They're just waiting to see how it plays out here in the U.S.
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