How Google Profits From Net Neutrality

From Tim Andrews on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 5:20 PM

Timothy Carney, writing in today’s Washington Examiner, examines the reasons why Google, who donated over $800,000 to President Obama’s campaign, is lobbying so heavily for net neutrality.

He begins with a an explanation of how the internet operates.

“Some companies make, gather or present digital stuff you want, including content (such as YouTube's videos), communication (such as the new Google Voice service) or applications (such as eBay's auction software). Other companies deliver these digital "goods" over wires or through the air to your computer or iPhone -- such as AT&T, Verizon or Comcast. In brief, there are content providers and there are networks.”

However, as more and more people are taking advantage of data intensive services, for instance watching live high-definition video online, there simply isn’t the infrastructure there to supply the demand.

Carney presents two solutions: “One solution: Just build massive amounts of new bandwidth [ed: and charge consumers!]. A better solution: Networks could build special "express lanes" for content that requires lots of bandwidth”. This next-generation smart technology would ensure faster internet, at lower costs. It is this express lane that net-neutrality would outlaw. As such, Google & others, who don’t want to pay anything to use the wires, are calling on the government to legislate to ensure their free-rider status: “It's comparable to a manufacturer lobbying for price controls on shipping companies”

Net neutrality will lead to higher costs, slower internet, and a worse online experience for households. It’s as simple as that .

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Do you really think it's in Google's interest to have the internet be slower and have higher costs? Google's entire business strategy is to do whatever it can to get more people online easier, because when they go online they go to Google, and Google can show them ads (Andriod, Chrome, ChromeOS, Docs - all of them exist entirely to get people on the internet). If the conclusion that net neutrality laws lead to slower internet and higher costs is as simple and obvious as you make it seem, Google would come up with the same conclusion and would not be lobbying for those laws. Clearly you are missing something.
>> Matt Friday, October 30, 2009 3:34 PM

The Net Neutrality advocates want to transform the internet into a public utility, managed by the governement. They want to create an environment where the government is forced to step in, build out networks, and nationalize the background. It's all right here: http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/246.php This is an interview with the founder of the Free Press, whose press secretary is now the FCC's press secretary. But the truth is, even Google is starting to worry that things are going to far. See this: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/22/AR2009102204357.html
>> Max Power Friday, October 30, 2009 4:44 PM

I DON'T TRUST THEM THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT PUBLICLY AND DENOUNCE THIS IF THEY DON'T THEY ARE FOR IT AND STAND TO PROFIT FROM IT.FOLLOW THE MONEY TRAIL.
>> Jean Monday, November 2, 2009 12:59 PM

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How Google Profits From Net Neutrality

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