NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Re: Google / Verizon "net neutrality" conference callcomplete - quick summary
There's a curious ambiguity, which may not be intended, in the language of the fourth item on network management. The proposal language reads
Reasonable network management includes any technically sound practice: . . . to address traffic that is unwanted by or harmful to users, the provider’s network, or the Internet; . . .
If this complex exception parses out to
(either unwanted by or harmful)
to
(either users, the provider's network, or the Internet)
then it would include 'traffic unwanted by the provider's network'. That might include, for example, messages critical of Verizon (if Verizon decides it doesn't want such messages on its network).
That would be a much larger loophole than the provision seems on the surface to be proposing; one tends to assume it really means '(1) traffic unwanted by users, or (2) traffic harmful to users, the provider's network, or the Internet'. But the syntax makes that unclear.
Rick Ellrod
-----Original Message-----
From: Lauren Weinstein [mailto:lauren@vortex.com]
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 2:18 PM
To: nnsquad@nnsquad.org
Subject: [ NNSquad ] Google / Verizon "net neutrality" conference callcomplete - quick summary
A joint (very short notice) conference call between the Google and Verizon CEOs has completed. Very brief nutshell from my notes:
1) The firms vigorously deny that they made any carriage or related
deals. They declared recent reporting to the contrary to be totally
wrong.
2) The firms set forth a "Joint Policy Agreement" including seven
principles that they would like to see broadly implemented.
3) Of the seven principles, I view five of them as entirely
noncontroversial.
4) Principle #6 on different handling of wireline and wireless
data invokes some issues that need to be discussed.
5) Principle #5 on the creation of "non-Internet" differentiated
services (which Google's CEO pledged not to use) appears
significantly problematic in a number of respects, and was
(appropriately) the focus of virtually all questions on the call.
Google has posted the principles at:
http://bit.ly/cpO0bU (Google Public Policy Blog)
I'll write up my thoughts on all this in more detail as soon as possible.
--Lauren--
NNSquad Moderator