Consumer groups have heavily criticized the Google-Verizon proposed plan for Net neutrality. Now companies are beginning to voice their opinions — both for and against.
A rough demarcation is that broadband providers favor the direction of the plan, while Internet-based companies, especially content providers, oppose it.
AT&T, for example, likes it. On Wednesday, company executive Ralph de la Vega told analysts “it’s a positive sign that shows that those two companies can agree on something as different as Net neutrality.” He called it a right step forward.
‘Could Harm Consumer Internet Access’
Similarly, Level 3 Communications also voiced some satisfaction about the joint proposal, although it noted reservations about the “paid priority data service” that last-mile carriers, like AT&T, could implement.
But Facebook, among other companies, opposes the plan. Spokesperson Andrew Noyes told news media that his company “continues to support principles of Net neutrality for both landline and wireless networks.” He added that an open Internet “will promote a vibrant and competitive marketplace where consumers have ultimate control over the content and services.”
Amazon.com has also voiced opposition to the idea of managed services. The company said “we agree that network operators should be allowed to offer additional services,” but added that “this proposal appears to condone services that could harm consumer Internet access.”
Brad Burnham and Fred Wilson, partners in an early stage venture-capital fund, wrote in The New York Times on Wednesday that they fear “this agreement is a compromise that does not serve the next great startup enterprise well.” The companies they cited as examples of successes because there were no Internet “gatekeepers” or “toll takers” are eBay, Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare — and Google.
Backlash Advancing Net Neutrality?
The Verizon-Google framework outlines a variety of recommended policies, including prohibiting wireline providers from preventing the sending or receiving of any lawful content or applications.
But the proposal…