p2p news / p2pnet: When it comes to Net neutrality, there’s nothing neutral about it, especially online, say The Wall Street Journal’s Dionne Searcey and Amy Schatz.

"In one corner of the World Wide Web, a group of singers dubbing itself The Broadband croons ‘God Save the Internet,’ while in another, a video warns of the dangers of a ’socialized Internet’," they write in a piece which says people on both sides, "but mostly those who favor Net neutrality, or treating all Internet traffic the same," are using the Net to get out their messages out.

"More than a dozen online videos sound off on whether Congress should let cable and phone companies create a two-tiered Internet that could end up with content providers, such as Google Inc., paying to ensure speedier delivery of their services," says the story, going on:

"One of the video clips, which was produced by MoveOn.org, features the musician Moby trying to convince confused pedestrians outside of the U.S. Capitol to support laws that would force phone and cable companies to treat all Internet traffic equally as it flows over their networks. Over on telecom-backed NetCompetition.org, the video warning of ‘a socialized Internet,’ decries ‘corporate welfare for dot-com billionaires’."

But, "While several economists and telecom wonks have blogged in favor of the side of the phone and cable companies, they’re in the minority online," say Searcey and Schatz.

High-tech firms in particular are counting on activists on the Web, but there are dangers.

"Because of all the rhetoric, Net neutrality has become such a hot-button issue that some companies have found themselves the target of advocates who are quick to jump on any kink in Internet service as a new battlefield in the debate," adds The Wall Street Journal.

"Recently, bloggers sent out fiery missives against Cox Communications Inc. because some subscribers had trouble accessing online classifieds Web site Craigslist."

But rather than being a Net neutrality issue, it was, "an incompatibility problem between Craigslist and Cox’s security software that is being remedied."

Also See:
Net neutrality - Net neutrality fight returns to Senate, June 13, 2006
The Wall Street Journal - Not So Neutral, June 14, 2006

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