Net Neutrality: AT&T throws support behind FCC chairman

Read Network World Article 
Here we go.  AT&T, Major Carrier and ISP, throws it’s support behind the FCC and Network Neutrality. 

"AT&T has long supported the principle of an open Internet and has conducted its business accordingly. We were also early supporters of the FCC's current four broadband principles and their case-by-case application to wired networks. To the extent that the chairman seeks to bolster the FCC's legal authority to enforce these principles, we would support him. “

The Internet “Peanut Gallery”, thinks this is a waste of time.  How wrong they are.  This is about big business, big revenues, consumer fairness and equal access.
Read CNET Article 
On the flip side of the coin, Verizon came out against Network Neutrality.

CHICAGO--The day before the FCC is expected to start the ball rolling on new regulations to keep the Internet open, Verizon Communications CEO Ivan Seidenberg painted a doomsday picture of what could happen in the industry if stricter rules are imposed.

"Proponents (of Net neutrality) have a worldview that network providers and application providers, like Google, occupy different parts of the Internet: dumb pipes versus smart apps," he said. "This is a mistake pure and simple. It's an analog idea for a digital world. It completely understates the need for sound practices and ignores the benefits of smart networks."

Verizon and other network operators already agree with the first four Open Internet principles adopted by the FCC. In summary, these principles state that operators cannot restrict access to lawful Internet content, applications, and services nor can they prohibit users from attaching non-harmful devices to the network.

On the Flip Side:

Vint Cerf, Google's chief Internet evangelist and one of the original architects of the Internet, joined other pioneers in sending another letter to the FCC expressing support for the commission's proposed rules.
"The issue is nondiscrimination against applications and against consumer choice," The Washington Post quoted him as saying. "That should be clear by the letter from my colleagues, and by others, that the fundamental concern is that the provider of broadband service not be able to take advantage of that to act in an anticompetitive fashion against others that are trying to provide competitive applications using the same broadband facilities."

See PC World IDG News Article

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has taken the first step toward creating formal net neutrality rules, despite a huge lobbying effort from opposing groups in recent days.
The FCC voted last Thursday to open a rulemaking process and begin receiving comments on a proposal to create new net neutrality rules following a contentious debate on whether new regulations are needed.

Other Noteworthy Online References:
See Washington Post Article
See Washington Post Article
See Washington Post Article

Google chief executive Eric Schmidt favors net neutrality, but only to a point: While the tech player wants to make sure that telecommunications giants don't steer Internet traffic in a way that would favor some devices or services over others, he also believes that it would be a terrible idea for the government to involve itself as a regulator of the broader Internet.

See Network World Article

The FCC Intends to codify six principles that will apply to all platforms for broadband Internet access

This is debate is now making big news.  While no one truly (not so sure?) wants more big government regulations, the FCC probably needs to (at least) balance the scales so that the ISPs and carriers do not subvert the internet for their own proprietary profit-interests. 
There is a concept in Technology Circles called “Content versus Container”.  The carriers have traditionally been “Containers” (transport), while the Google’s, Microsoft's, Amazons, etc have been “content”.  When the lines are crossed, a higher level of scrutiny is called for so that the roles are made clear to “container” subscribers.
Conlige suspectos semper habitos

(Round up the usual suspects)

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