NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] FCC Chairman seeks to "reassure" cable industry at annual meeting today
FCC Chairman seeks to "reassure" cable industry at annual meeting today http://bit.ly/arHtaX (Wall Street Journal) This is a live blogging transcript of Chairman Julius Genachowski's Q&A at the annual cable association meeting today. Of particular note is a comment from cable-association president Kyle McSlarrow, who -- while specifically speaking of Google -- suggested that "a search algorithm is just a fancy name for discrimination." Presumably he's using the term "discrimination" as a synonym for unfair bias. At least as far as Google is concerned, his assertion is balderdash. Organizing information to make it useful -- rather than a random hodgepodge -- means making decisions about orderings and priorities. Unfair bias in this context suggests a purposeful and directed attempt to unfairly favor specific parties at the expense of other parties. Unfair bias is not invoked merely by prioritizing data (e.g. organic search results) according to carefully drawn and tuned, fair criteria. I have yet to have presented to me a *single* instance of Google natural search results that demonstrate unfair bias upon investigation. Apparently the anti-neutrality Big Lie campaign to divert attention from dominant ISP abuses continues unabated. What a shame. --Lauren-- NNSquad Moderator