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Net Neutrality 10-10-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

Telco Strategy Shift: To the States

We beat them in Congress, and depending on what happens on November 7th, we may win a full victory next session. The telcos are already changing their strategy to head off a Democratic Congress. This is from Tech Daily:

Lead Verizon Communications lobbyist Tom Tauke announced that the company is likely to halt its efforts in pursuing federal rules on video franchises should pending legislation fail this year. Bloomberg News reports that Tauke said the company instead would shift its focus to obtaining statewide agreements in Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania. Although federal language that would help telephone companies like AT&T and Verizon offer video services has broad support, the proposal has stalled because of various objections to the broader bill. “It is unclear whether there will be an opportunity” to pass a bill this year, Tauke said. “I do not expect we will mount an effort for federal legislation in 2007.”

This is essentially a threat to Congress – if you don’t pass something soon (in the lame duck session, for instance), we’re going to bypass you and go directly to the states. This has been coming for some time.

Gives new meaning to the PoliBlog. Doesn’t it? Tom Tauke writes there.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Net Neutrality 10-07-2006

by

Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

Verizon’s Got a Policy Blog Called PoliBlog

. . . It’s called PoliBlog and in the first posting, Verizon honcho and former Congressman from Iowa Tom Tauke explains why Verizon has taken to blogging.

. . . While this may seem a bit counterintuitive, PoliBlog is not intended as a “corporate” blog. Instead, it is our effort to find a place in the universal town square. We are players in the communications and broadband worlds. What we do or don’t do has real impact. So we think we should offer our perspectives and positions on issues and subject them to scrutiny, comment, and debate. It’s good for us. And it’s healthy for the policymaking process.

Now, it’s entirely possible that Verizon is being slicker-than-slick by . . . not barging out the door and banging all of us on the head with a bunch of one-way arguments on, say, net neutrality . . . only to mess with our heads or spew forth lobbying or PR materials later.

If Verizon doesn’t . . . however, kudos to the telco for at least trying to join the conversation

About page of the Poliblog by Verizon

About poliblog

Verizon, through its blog, seeks to encourage intelligent discussion of public policy issues affecting the telecommunications industry and Verizon in particular. We will do this by posting our own points of view regularly, engaging in conversation with other posters who offer fact-based comments and reacting to the relevant ongoing blogosphere conversation. While no telecommunications subject is considered off-limits, we will focus on policy issues that have implications for the greatest number of companies and consumers.

On this date the post described in the article above and all posts on the Poliblog could not be accessed. This message came up instead: Error loading posts. Please try again.

UPDATE: THE POSTS ARE BACK. You can find them at Poliblog

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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NET NEUTRALITY PAGE