Google Waves The Antitrust Threat Stick To Protect Neutrality

from the yeah,-good-luck-with-that... dept

The net neutrality battle continues to take its inevitable twists and turns. Back when the telcos were threatening to charge Google extra to reach their subscribers, some people suggested that Google should call the telcos' bluff and tell them they wouldn't pay -- which is pretty much exactly what happened. Now that it looks like there won't be net neutrality language in any new telco bills, Google is making it clear that if it finds out a telco is trying to break net neutrality, it might just file antitrust charges against that telco. It's not quite the same threat as using eminent domain to take over telco assets, but it could have the same overall impact: scaring the telcos straight. Of course, that assumes the telcos are actually worried about an antitrust suit. In reality, they probably realize that any such lawsuit would take many, many years -- and by the time it was all decided, it wouldn't much matter any more.
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  1. identicon
    Simon, 5 Jul 2006 @ 4:02am

    I wonder what would happen if Google stopped providing services to a single ISP's subscribers? People don't sign for an ISP because they want another wire stuck in the side of their house, the sign up because of the CONTENT available on the Internet, the ISP's have to face facts that a large proportion of that content comes via Google. Maybe they should be paying Google for providing content, just like they have to pay the TV companies to use their content?
    Good luck Google.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    w00t, 5 Jul 2006 @ 4:50am

    Telecos....

    Its not the ISP's that Google is threatening here. Its the Telecos that supply the network. Like in britan we have BT as our teleco, although you are free to go with any ISP you like. The good thing here is BT hasnt tried to go against net neutrality.... yet.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    Jezsik, 5 Jul 2006 @ 4:52am

    Good point, Simon

    It would sure help to let the telecos know that the tail is NOT wagging the dog.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    NGUVU, 5 Jul 2006 @ 6:35am

    NN

    If telcos mess with us...there will be a digital revolution of unimaginable scale...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Jul 2006 @ 6:42am

    Re: Telecos....

    w00t, that's not how it works here in America. Most of us can only 'choose' a teleco for our ISP. Apparently we don't believe in competition for internets.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    Sarujin, 5 Jul 2006 @ 8:00am

    Re:

    It is possible that the big content (Google, Yahoo, etc) providers could block traffic through a certain Telco's network as well as that Telco's ISP networks. This of course maybe illegal as well. They could say that if they have to pay then they will not provide them content. This also may lead to a Balkanized US internet with unpredictable results.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    n00b, 5 Jul 2006 @ 9:21am

    Whatever

    Just like Google was going to push antitrust action against Microsoft because of the freaking search bar in IE7?

    Dear Google,

    I'd like to see more concentration on your alledgedly "core business" of search (more and more of my results are worthless spam that's been SEO'd out the ying-yang), while at the same time fewer pronouncements from your lawyers and fewer shite products like Google Page Creator and Google Checkout.

    Sincerely,
    n00b

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    Jaiye, 5 Jul 2006 @ 9:22am

    Re: Re:

    I'd say the results would be pretty obvious: mass migration to a telco/isp whose content is not being blocked.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    Bell, 5 Jul 2006 @ 11:35am

    net neutrality duel

    The Motley Fool has published a Duel on net neutrality. You can read it for yourself here: http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/commentary06063004.htm?ref=foolwatch

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. identicon
    willy nilly, 5 Jul 2006 @ 2:27pm

    2006 Internet is neutral
    2007 telcos start limiting services to unaffiliated content providers
    2007 unaffiliated content providers file anti trust lawsuits
    2008 supreme court decides for telco's with caviat that intense regulation is the only way to make sure telco's are behaving ethically.
    2009 your Internet bill resembes your cellular phone bill.
    2010 you have to buy a 2 year contract with verizon or AT&T in order to get a 'free' computer that is "compatible" with the Verizon or AT&T internet. stay tuned for customizable computer skins that match your personality.
    2012 amid complaints of bad customer support, loading, dumping, bait and switch tactics from telco dealers, (franchises) government leverages a 2.8% tax on your internet bill to create a watchdog committee on these issues.
    2015 US government enacts the Computer Portability Act - where you can keep your same computer and computer SIM card to move from AT&T to carrier of choice without losing your email address and storage.
    2016 US government enacts anti-spam really we mean it anti spam bill that prosecutes anyone from sending you spam. charges only 1% tax for this service.
    2020 US government deregulates the Internet and bills skyrocket.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. identicon
    ebrke, 6 Jul 2006 @ 8:47am

    Re: Telecos....

    They're just waiting to see how it plays out here in the U.S.

    link to this | view in thread ]


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