The Jeff Pulver Blog: Building Momentum from the Internet Communications Industry for "Net Neutrality"

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March 10, 2006

Building Momentum from the Internet Communications Industry for "Net Neutrality"

As I have been blogging for so many months/years now, the Net Neutrality issue will be the seminal issue to determine the rules shaping the future of the Internet. It is now clear that Net Neutrality will be at the heart of Congressional debate in the US Congress this year. To that end, we are trying to build a groundswell of support from Internet innovators, entrepreneurs and enthusiasts who might not normally participate in the political process.

Whether we like it or not, the battle for preservation and advancement of the open Internet is raging in DC and in the corridors of power around the World. We, the members of the Internet communications industry, do not have the luxury anymore to sit by idly while Congress writes the laws that will shape the future of the Internet and communications. As such, I ask you all to take a look at the letter below and consider signing onto it while at Spring 2006 VON or by otherwise notifying Jonathan Askin (with a verifiable name and affiliation) that you would like to add your name.

Copies of this letter in support of Net Neutrality will be available at the Spring 2006 VON Communications Policy Summit on March 14, and at various sessions addressing public policy concerns throughout next week's Spring 2006 VON Conference.

I also ask that you consider becoming more active with the VON Coalition, the trade association fighting for the IP-based communications industry.

Text of Letter:

March ##, 2006

The Honorable Joe Barton
Chairman
Committee on Energy and Commerce
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable John D. Dingell
Ranking Member
Committee on Energy and Commerce
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

RE: Protecting the Open and Interconnected Nature of the Internet

Dear Chairman Barton, Ranking Member Dingell and Members of the
Committee:

Everywhere people with a stake in the Internet economy gather, they are
discussing 'net neutrality and, by an overwhelming margin, looking to
Congress to steadfastly defend the Internet and preserve its open and
interconnected nature. 'Net neutrality is the principle that the
Internet should remain open and interconnected-free from gatekeepers
over new content and services-to promote innovation, economic growth and
job creation.

"Net neutrality" is a historic practice that has enabled the success of
the Internet. It must be re-codified as the law of the land. We are
writing to you today because we believe 'net neutrality, as articulated
in the Federal Communications Commission's four principles, is
essential.

Nearly two-thirds of the public uses the Internet and a recent poll
shows that more than two-thirds of the public supports 'net neutrality.
The principle of nondiscrimination and open access to communications
networks has been part of public policy and law for almost a century and
as more of our economic and social life goes online, "net neutrality"
becomes even more important.

As the capacity and bandwidth of the Internet grows, it will become the
platform of choice for commercial development unmatched in our history.
Just as the growth of Amazon, eBay, Yahoo and Google was not foreseeable
five and ten years ago, we cannot now predict the ideas that will evolve
in the next five to ten years. What we do know is that as the capacity
and bandwidth grows, independent creative people will find new valuable
applications, so long as they have unfettered access to that capacity.
In the past 'net neutrality was embodied in laws that applied to the
common carriers that underpinned the Internet. The Internet benefited
from that neutrality.

Recent decisions by the Federal Communications Commission, which are
under review, have eliminated for some broadband Internet services, the
safeguard which protected 'net neutrality by ensuring non-discriminatory
interconnection obligations between multiple competitive broadband
carriers. Up until now, competitive broadband carriers allowed
consumers and innovative e-commerce companies to cast their vote for
'net neutrality in the marketplace. According to Internet pioneer Vint
Cerf, this safeguard "paradoxically" allowed the Internet to remain
"open and 'unregulated' as originally designed."

The risks posed by the fact that today phone and cable operators
together control 98 percent of the broadband market are very real. We
have already seen more than glimpses into the future. VoIP blocking and
Internet outages have already occurred, discriminatory web fees and the
creation of a "two tier" Internet have been threatened and a future of
bandwidth rationing and ubiquitous click fees is in the offing.

We are writing to advise you that outside the beltway, in the market,
there are rumors that 'net neutrality will be stripped away by the House
of Representative's communications policy legislation. We urge you to
put this rumor to rest immediately by affirming your commitment to 'net
neutrality. The dawning realization that the Internet economy-which
must be measured in hundreds of billions if not trillions of dollars-has
little or no legal protection against online discrimination can and will
have a chilling effect on investment, innovation and ecommerce.
Congress must address this growing uncertainty.

Broadband carriers are quite correct in saying that bandwidth is not
free and they ought to be able to neutrally charge consumers for
bandwidth usage. But in opposing 'net neutrality, carriers propose a
fundamental change to the Internet economy, the consequences of which
can be foreseen, based on the recent behavior of carriers.

Rights, freedoms and markets we take for granted exist within the
Internet's decentralized and open architecture. We urge you to support
"net neutrality" and the future promise of the Internet.

Sincerely,

###

Tags: voip, Net Neutrality, VON, Jeff Pulver