Net freedom is at risk from carriers say coalition

Stan Beer
Friday, 28 April 2006 05:43

Your IT - Home IT

An unlikely coalition of gun owners, an anti-Bush political organisation and the largest technology companies in the US has warned that the future of the internet is at risk because of the uncurbed powers of telecommunications carriers. The want a law passed that ensures what they call Net Neutrality, which would prevent carriers from favouring content providers of their choice over others. However, to date they have been unsuccessful.

The organisation calling itself SavetheInternet.com, includes the CEOs of many of the top technology companies, including Microsoft, Intel, Google, Yahoo, eBay and Amazon, as well as original net pioneers, such as Vint Cerf. It includes politically disparate groups such as Gun owners of America and the anti-Bush MoveOn organisation.

The coalition believes that the unfettered power of carriers will result in some favouring their own content to the detriment of other providers and will also lead to carriers increasing costs for content providers in order to guarantee satisfactory performance of traffic carriage.

The fight has pits some of the world's most powerful technology companies against the largest carriers in the US. So far, the telecoms players, who appear to have more friends in high places in Washington, have prevented any laws guaranteeing Net Neutrality from being passed. However, the SavetheInternet.com coalition continues to press and, although stymied this week by a vote in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, they plan to continue the fight.