After a fumbling kick-off, net neutrality advocates are finally getting into position, with a noticeable ramp-up in political organizing. First, CNET’s Anne Broache has this item about how the AARP is weighing in on the pro-net neutrality side of the debate.
The group that represents older Americans is not, at first blush, a prime constituency for this issue. Still, the AARP believes it has a stake in keeping the Internet open and free of potential broadband provider interference.
“We’re not traditionally someone who would be involved in technology legislation and things of that nature, but this has a direct impact on our members and their lifestyles,” said AARP spokesman Mark Kitchens.
The AARP may not be a logical water-carrier, but it is part of a clearly organized coalition of seventy companies, organizations and interest groups that sent a letter to the Senate Commerce committee yesterday advocating the inclusion of net neutrality provisions in upcoming telecom reform legislation (something that Committee Co-Chairman Ted Stevens (R-AK) seems reluctant to do).
In the letter, signed by a wide range of companies, including Adobe, Amazon, EarthLink, Google, Travelocity, Yahoo and Skype, and a broad array of organizations, including the Consumer Electronics Association, Public Knowledge, Consumer Federation of America and the American Associatin of Libraries, the coalition argued for net neutrality measures.
While it is appropriate for Congress to develop new legislation to promote competition among broadband networks, it must also ensure that consumers and providers continue to have the right to use those networks to send and receive content, and to use applications and services, without interference by network operators. As Internet pioneer Vint Cerf said, the Internet is, and must remain, “innovation without permission.”
Someone, or some group of companies, on the pro-net neutrality side of this issue has gotten wise to the ways of Washington — this kind of coalition-building, however hokey, is quite effective — and is clearly willing to spend some cash to more effectively lobby Congress. The organizer of the coalition is strategic communications and grassroots company Qorvis Communications, which is closely aligned with DC lobbying powerhouse Patton Boggs.
Cynthia Brumfield at 11:37 PM|Comments(3)
Thank you for going to the trouble of posting the letter. It appears to be very general in nature and unthreatening. I am sure that Net Neutrality will be the subject of more discussion going forward. Indeed, I don't think that the term has even been adequately defined. Thanks again.
Posted by: Darnell Dunwitty at March 19, 2006 2:29 PM
Darnell,
I received a copy of the letter via email, which I am reproducing below. I couldn't find a link to it on the Internet.
VIA HAND DELIVERYMarch 16, 2006
The Honorable Ted Stevens The Honorable Daniel K. Inouye
Chairman Co-Chairman
Committee on Commerce, Committee on Commerce,
Science and Transportation Science and Transportation
United States Senate United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Chairman Stevens, Co-Chairman Inouye and Members of the Committee:
We are a broad based group of Internet consumers, content providers, service, device and application companies that believe that unless Congress acts, the Internet is at risk of losing the openness that has made it an engine for phenomenal social and economic growth. We are writing to urge that Congress take steps now to preserve this fundamental underpinning of the Internet and to assure the Internet remains a platform open to innovation and progress.
Specifically, as Congress considers legislation to update the nation’s telecommunications policy, it must recognize that the Internet’s open architecture and the pre-existing legal framework that created the Internet should not be just “hoped for” in a broadband world. The essential elements must be guaranteed by a meaningful and enforceable net neutrality requirement.
The open architecture of the Internet has always let providers, as well as individual innovators, share, offer and create the content, devices, applications, and services that the marketplace desires. Consumers in the marketplace, and not network operators, should decide what content and services succeed or fail. The end-to-end design of the Internet was made possible by the non-discriminatory framework that has long been the bedrock of U.S. telecommunications policy. It is this framework that has prevented gatekeepers on the Internet and guaranteed the innovation and economic success that has driven the American economy over the past decade.
While it is appropriate for Congress to develop new legislation to promote competition among broadband networks, it must also ensure that consumers and providers continue to have the right to use those networks to send and receive content, and to use applications and services, without interference by network operators. As Internet pioneer Vint Cerf said, the Internet is, and must remain, ‘innovation without permission”.
We stand ready to work with you to pass legislation that will continue the successful legal policies that are essential to allowing the broadband Internet to thrive.
Sincerely,
AARP
Aegon Direct Marketing Services, Inc.
Adaptive Marketing LLC
Adobe
Amazon.com
American Association of Libraries
AngleBeds.com
Ask.com
Association of Research Libraries
Bloglines
Business Software Alliance
BT Americas Inc.
Cendant
Circumedia LLC
CitySearch
COMPTEL
Consumer Electronics Association
Consumer Federation of America
DiMA
Downstream
Dreamsleep.com
Dresses.com
EarthLink
eBay
eBrands Commerce Group
Educause
Electronic Retailing Association
Entertainment Publications
Evite.com
Excite
Expedia
Free Press
Gifts.com
Hawthorne Direct
Home Shopping Network
Hotels.com
Hotwire
IAC/InterActiveCorp
Iceland Health Inc.
iNest
InPulse Response
Interactive Travel Services Association
Internet2
iWon
LendingTree
Livemercial
Match.com
Media Access Project
Media Partners Worldwide
Mercury Media
Merrick Group
Microsoft
Nationalblinds.com
NetCoalition
Product Partners LLC
Public Knowledge
Pulver.com
RealEstate.com
Savvier
ServiceMagic
Skype
Sling Media Inc.
Sony Electronics Inc.
Ticketmaster
TiVO
Tonystickets.com
Tranqulitymattress.com
Travelocity
Yahoo!
Posted by: Cynthia Brumfield at March 18, 2006 5:48 PM
I'm not sure I understand what this coalition is looking for. Has it the impression that someone somewhere is trying to stop people from using the internet services they are paying for? And how will the Congress be able to "promote competition among broadband networks?" It strikes me that the ads I am inundated with for broadband services are evidence of plenty of competition.
Do you know of a link to the letter somewhere? The c|net piece you cited doesn't tell me much more than you have. As a member of AARP, I hear the sound of the organization rushing off to get on yet another bandwagon it doesn't understand.
Posted by: Darnell Dunwitty at March 18, 2006 5:37 PM
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