[ NNSquad ] Re: "Google in Washington"

["David P. Reed" <dpreed@reed.com>]

The interpretations made here on NN are quite interesting, but really 
reflect the interpreters' usual perspectives.

The "network neutrality" idea pre-existed Google, and it's core ideas 
were created before Google: "common carriage", the "end to end 
argument", "freedom of speech and assembly", and the Enlightenment 
concept of a sea of arguments.

The idea that carriers should control content also pre-existed Google.  
In the form of censorship of  books and movies by customs agents at 
borders, by theater owners, by publishers, and by states.

The organizations Brett cites, PK, Free Press, ... all pre-existed Google.

So I see the significant engagement of Google here as a matter of a 
powerful economic entity surveying the landscape, and picking sides with 
an idea that its management supports, and also works for its customers - 
who are the small businesses that advertise to its users.

Supporting an idea doesn't mean control of those who express the idea.  
Those of us who support forms of NN do not take orders from Google, and 
many have criticized certain practices Google has undertaken, quite 
vocally.  And yet, we also work with others (Lessig with Microsoft, for 
example) when they are sympathetic to parts of the ideas we work towards.