Legal Niches

Loopholes Abound in Google Verizon Plan

By james_fudge

Those that support net neutrality are not too keen on Google and Verizon's internet proposals for congress, mainly because of the number of loopholes the companies put in place to protect various interests. Groups that have been the most vocal include MoveOn.org and Public Knowledge, who called the new proposals a package that "does almost nothing to preserve an open Internet."

While the press release the two companies released yesterday promises one course of action - stopping broadband providers from discriminating against or prioritizing "lawful Internet content" - it's the legislative language that scares many open internet rights groups. Here are a few choice excerpts from the legislative language Google and Verizon provided to lawmakers:

"..In providing broadband Internet access service, a provider would be prohibited from engaging in undue discrimination against any lawful Internet content, application, or service in a manner that causes meaningful harm to competition or to users."

But who decides what "lawful internet content" is? Here's the answer to that question: Read More

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Full post as published by GamePolitics.com on August 10, 2010 (boomark / email).