NY Times reveals the secret agreement. Many content providers like Amazon, eBay and Skype prefer no favoritism on the Internet or they want to be sure that if a pay system exists, all content providers have the opportunity to pay for faster service. The F.C.C., meanwhile, favors a level playing field, but it cannot impose one as long as its authority over broadband is in legal doubt. It has proposed a solution that would reclassify broadband Internet service under the Communications Act from its current designation as an “information service,” a lightly regulated designation, to a “telecommunications service,” a category that, like telephone service, is subject to stricter regulation.
The F.C.C. has said that it does not want to impose strict regulation on Internet service and rates, but seeks only the authority to enforce broadband privacy and guarantee equal access. It also wants to use federal money to subsidize broadband service for rural areas. Google, Verizon working on Web deal. Google and Verizon are crafting an agreement that would align one of the country’s largest wireline Internet providers with the world’s top Web company on the hot-button political issue of net neutrality.
The deal – which neither party would confirm – would bring together two companies that were once vehemently divided on net neutrality, the policy supported by the Obama administration that would force all telecom carriers to treat all Web traffic equally. Continue Reading A pact between Google and Verizon signals a possible new direction for how net neutrality will be handled by policymakers and industry players alike. Sources familiar with the agreement tell POLITICO it would prevent Verizon from blocking traffic, but would allow it to prioritize certain traffic—such as premium services that would speed up movie downloads, for example – as long as doing so does not harm consumers.
Other stakeholders, including AT&T, immediately distanced themselves from the vague, forthcoming agreement. Google, Verizon in tiered-Net traffic talks. Google-Verizon talks on net neutrality spark firestorm of criticism. By Mike Zapler mzapler@mercurynews.com Posted: 08/05/2010 02:57:06 PM PDT0 Comments|Updated: 4 years ago WASHINGTON -- Consumer advocates voiced alarm Thursday over reports that Google and Verizon are close to an agreement that would allow Verizon to provide faster Internet speeds for websites that pay for priority service, saying such an arrangement could lead to a handful of large Internet providers wielding vast influence over which websites people use.
News of the negotiations between Google and Verizon -- which the companies said were mischaracterized in media reports -- crystallized a long-simmering debate in Washington over the principle of network neutrality, which essentially says that Internet providers such as Comcast and Verizon should not be allowed to discriminate among different types of Web content. One concern is that the Internet providers will provide slower speeds or charge extra fees for websites that compete with their own offerings, such as video over the Internet. Firms Hope Deal Will Shape Net-Neutrality Law m.
Verizon, Google make net neutrality pact. Google and Verizon have come to an agreement on how network operators can manage Web traffic, according to two sources briefed on their negotiations. The agreement, expected to be announced within days, comes as the Federal Communications Commission tries to get major Internet content firms and network service providers to strike a deal on disputed points of so-called net neutrality rules. It's unclear how the deal will affect the direction of those discussions. The FCC said Verizon and Google are still part of meetings between senior staff and officials at AT&T, Skype, a cable trade association and the Open Internet Coalition.
Public interest groups criticized the meetings and the rumored agreement between Verizon and Google for allowing giant Internet firms to have a greater say in the future of how consumers access the Web. Verizon wouldn't confirm that a deal was struck but said in an e-mail statement: Google did not reply to a request for comment. More from Post Tech: Tim Wu: Google / Verizon. Must. The alleged Google-Verizon deal. On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that Google and Verizon"are nearing an agreement that could … speed some online content to Internet users more quickly if the content's creators are willing to pay for the privilege.
" While both Google and Verizon quickly denied the NYT report, the newspaper says it's standing by its story. If the Times is right, this content-for-cash scheme would be the greatest scandal in Google's history. We could term it "Internet Payola," after the practice of record labels paying radio stations to play their songs. The plan would probably work like this: In exchange for payment or some other mutually beneficial considerations, Verizon would give special priority to sites like Google.com and YouTube, making them run faster than competitors like Yahoo.com and Hulu. Such a payola scheme would violate the precept of net neutrality, the belief that all packets that travel over the Internet should be treated equally. Verizon Statement on New York Times Article. NY Times stands by the reporting... New york times screws up. APPLE'S FAVOURITE newspaper the New York Times appears to have wrongly stuck a knife into Google claiming that the Internet search outfit was about to betray its net neutrality stance and do a deal with Verizon.
The NYT claimed that the online advertising broker and Youtube proprietor was doing a deal with Verizon to pay large amounts of cash for high priority treatment and that would spell the end of net neutrality. If it was true, other US telecoms firms, broadband Internet service providers and the big media companies would be rubbing their paws knowing that they had beaten their biggest opponent and could soon start charging content providers for an Internet fast track and, in effect, censor the Internet to suit corporate preferences. However Google has posted on its Public Policy Twitter account a denial of the claims in the NYT story. It said the story was "wrong". Verizon was also nonplussed about the story. Who's Saying What. Google denies deal to end net neutrality. Google has dismissed reports that the company is in talks with US telecoms operator Verizon that could bring an end to net neutrality.
In an article published yesterday, the New York Times said the two companies "are nearing an agreement that could allow Verizon to speed some online content to internet users more quickly if the content's creators are willing to pay for the privilege". Today the search giant has said it remains as committed as ever to an internet where content exists on a level playing field. A Google spokeswoman told the Guardian: "The New York Times is quite simply wrong.
We have not had any conversations with Verizon about paying for carriage of Google traffic. We remain as committed as we always have been to an open internet. " Verizon has also moved to dismiss the story. " Many news outlets reported Google and Verizon as edging towards a deal that could see content creators paying for internet service providers to fast-track content to consumers.
Net neutrality talks stall in US. 6 August 2010Last updated at 09:11 By Maggie Shiels Technology reporter, BBC News, Silicon Valley Some fear that rules on how data is treated are going to be ripped up US regulators have halted closed-door meetings intended to find a way to make sure all web data is treated equally. The Federal Communications Commission began the meetings after a court limited its net regulation powers.
The FCC faced criticism over the meetings by groups that supported the principle known as net neutrality. The FCC decision follows reports that Google and Verizon hatched a separate deal to allow faster speeds for web sites that pay for the privilege. "Any outcome, any deal that doesn't preserve the freedom and openness of the internet for consumers and entrepreneurs will be unacceptable," said FCC chair Julius Genachowski. Both firms denied they were close to an agreement that many fear would lead to a "two-tier internet". Google said: "We remain as committed as we always have been to an open internet".
Log Jam. Google denies having an agreement w/ Verizon...