Network Neutrality and Monopoly Control
“Network neutrality” is an important concept that librarians should
understand. The issue arises because broadband network service providers
(e.g., cable and telephone companies) have the technical ability to filter,
slow, encumber, and block users’ access to the web, web sites, individual
web pages, particular kinds of services or files. If the FCC mandated
“network neutrality” it could limit how much and what kind of filtering and
blocking could be done. (See What is Network
Neutrality and Why Should Libraries Care?)
Recently there has been a small whirlwind around comments by Ed
Whitacre, the CEO of the large telephone company, SBC. He says that
companies (such as Google and Yahoo) that make money using SBC’s broadband
connections should pay him.
How do you think they’re going to get to customers? Through a
broadband pipe. Cable companies have them. We have them. Now what they
would like to do is use my pipes free, but I ain’t going to let them do
that.
— At SBC, It’s All About “Scale and Scope” interview with
Edward Whitacre, edited by Patricia O’Connell, Business Week,
November 7, 2005
This shifts the discussion from one of mandating network neutrality to
one of monopoly control of broadband access. There are some interesting
comments and discussion on this new issue here:
- Network neutrality v. platform competition, by Susan Crawford, October
30, 2005.After two days of impassioned speeches about network
neutrality, I am beginning to think that we’ve been drawn onto the wrong
battlefield…. I think the real fight should be over rights of way and
platform competition. There’s a clear lack of competition in the last mile
– that’s where choice has to exist, and it doesn’t now. - Net Neutrality and
Competition, by Ed Felten, Freedom to Tinker, October 31, 2005If SBC gets paid by Google, it’s because SBC faces less
competition and hence has more market power. As Susan Crawford observes,
Mr. Whitacre speaks with “the voice of someone who doesn’t think he has any
competitors.” - Net Neutrality Will Triumph, by Dana
Blankenhorn, November 1, 2005.The fact is that Whitacre is a Bellhead, playing an old game
of monopoly based on media power. The Internet routes around such games.
And the Internet is the market, not the dial tone. - Why We Need a
Democratic Information Network in Minneapolis, New Rules Project.There is an alternative. Publicly owned, open access networks
can ensure a competitive market for broadband. Indeed, they may be the only
way.