Following a rash of rumors in the last week about what they were discussing, Google and Verizon Wireless on Monday unveiled a joint policy proposal for Net neutrality. Under the proposal, a broadband provider can prioritize some kinds of online content to willing customers, wireline Internet remains neutral as to content, and wireless is unregulated.
In a joint statement posted simultaneously with the opening of a press conference by Google CEO Eric Schmdt and Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg, the two companies said it is “imperative that we find ways to protect the future openness of the Internet and encourage the rapid deployment of broadband.” Schmidt noted that the announcement was about a “joint policy,” not a business arrangement.
‘Principled Compromise’
The companies said their “principled compromise” is guided by two main goals — allowing users to choose content, applications and devices, and encouraging investment and innovation in the broadband infrastructure.
Those are the twin, opposing arguments about Net neutrality — that users need access to any Net content, without some content being prioritized or charged at the carrier’s whim, while carriers want to ensure that they have the financial resources to continue building a broadband infrastructure that can handle increasing volumes of traffic.
In the Verizon-Google Legislative Framework Proposal laid out Monday, wireline Internet service providers would be prohibited from preventing customers from sending or receiving any lawful content, running lawful applications, or connecting any lawful device.
Broadband providers would be required to be transparent about their conditions, and to disclose “in plain language” the nature of their offerings. The framework states, however, that providers are permitted to engage in “reasonable network management” to reduce network congestion, ensure security, or ensure “service quality to a subscriber” according to best practices by an unnamed, “widely recognized Internet community governance initiative or standard-setting organization.”
‘A Non-Starter’
The framework also says…