What We’re Reading and Saying: Weighing in On Net Neutrality

Much of the conversation last week in the tech, Internet and media sectors focused on the controversial joint proposal Google and Verizon released relating to net neutrality. While the issue has raised numerous questions and concerns among tech pundits, regulators, government officials and others (including further clarification from Google on its intentions), we wanted to offer a few of thoughts on the issue from our CEO, Jon Goldman.

Take a quick read at Jon’s points below and let us know your thoughts on this ongoing debate.

Looking Into the Net Neutrality Debate - The New York Times
Jon’s point: This issue is not as black-and-white as some have tried to make it out to be. While the Google-Verizon proposal makes sense for both companies from a business perspective, it is not the end of the “free” Internet as we know it. Were any of the recommendations in the proposal actually adopted, which I believe is unlikely, the overall effect on consumers would be minimal because the rise of the social Web has loosened almost all of the loyalty we once felt toward our favorite search engine or broadband provider.

In the socially-connected Web, the Google-Verizon discussions and proposal look more like an old-school business strategy to lock up distribution (similar to the manner in which cable companies lock in customers to their own content partnerships and services), where distribution is, in fact, unlimited.

The Internet of today and the future is not one of silos of content that can be manipulated by a broadband provider or restricted based on a search engine’s preferences or partnerships. Today’s Internet gives consumers the ability to interact and socialize with others in a manner that any type of artificial priority or restrictions put in place by the government or by service providers and websites themselves ultimately could not fully control.

Facebook at Odds With Google, Verizon on Net Neutrality – Wall Street Journal

Jon’s point: While the debate over whether Google and Verizon are right to try to lay down new sets of rules for access to the Internet via broadband or landlines is definitely up for a lot of debate in the coming months, what both companies are missing is the core essential of the Web they have largely created that will keep any type of artificial restrictions to Web access – whether created by the government through regulation, or by service providers – from ever fully controlling the Web: the opportunities social features now offer consumers.

The rise of the social Web has loosened many of the remaining ties and loyalties consumers once felt toward their favorite search engine or broadband provider. In the socially-connected Web, the Google-Verizon discussions and proposal look more like an old-school business strategy to lock up distribution (similar to the manner in which cable companies lock in customers to their own content partnerships and services), where distribution is, in fact, unlimited.

10 Media Takes on the Google-Verizon Net Neutrality Proposal – WIRED

Jon’s point: While it’s easy to get upset over the proposal and certain suggestions Google and Verizon have laid out for the future of the Internet, this is not the doomsday scenario so many are predicting. What we keep forgetting in this debate is that we, as the users of the Web, now have massively more power at our disposal over how we consumer, share and interact with each other around content than was available 5, 10 or 15 years ago. Whereas even five years ago, search engines such as Google, or broadband service providers such as Verizon, could have conceivably developed artificial restrictions to control the Web, the social and interactive sharing tools now available to all of us throughout almost every website make it very unlikely any type of artificial impediment the government or any company puts in place would keep people from easily and freely accessing the legal content they desire across whatever platform or service they find convenient.

Google denies selling out, defends net neutrality pact with Verizon - Washington Post

Jon’s point: Despite Google’s attempt Thursday to more fully explain this week’s joint proposal with Verizon, the priorities and beliefs of both companies that this is merely “policy proposal—not a business deal” are off-base. What Google and Verizon are can simply be explained as a pure business deal—one that makes sense from their perspective, but is rather short-sighted given the many advances in the social Web that now give consumers almost all of the control when it comes to the type of content they access, when and how fast they access that content and from what services and providers it is delivered.

We cannot simply turn back the clock on the Internet and magically rebuild a system whereby some websites, broadband access and types of content are given artificial priority over others.

The Web has morphed into an ecosystem where most consumers and businesses already give priority (often without acknowledging doing so) to great content easily found via other avenues outside of Google or even one ISP or broadband provider. Ultimately, the social Web will win—no matter how the pipes are controlled—and consumers will continue to have the upper hand in dictating which types of content they access and from where.