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by: Nick Lento

Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 07:02:33 PM EDT

I just now noticed a fascinating ad here on BluJersey. It's great to see advertisers supporting this site. Ain't free speech great!

The ad is obviously placed/funded by the interests who are against net neutrality. It links to a very well done video.

The advertisement cleverly uses highways as a visual metaphor, as in "information superhighway".

Of course, reality is not so simple.

I stongly urge all to view the video here

Then read on...

Nick Lento :: Please Pay Attention To This Ad

The web is more like a toll road. If it was simply a regular highway it would be paid for by all of us in taxes. Either way all roads, in a free country, are "dumb" in the sense that they don't discriminate as to who uses them (as long as you drive in accordance with functional rules).

The day may yet come when the "dumb pipe" of web access is offered to ALL of us taxpayers for "free"...but we're not quite that far along yet.

It just so happens that a few hours ago I made a Wikipedia edit/contribution which I'll quote in full. (I'm supposed to link to quoted text, so here it is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality
but keep in mind that in WikiWorld anyone can edit ! :-)

Comparison with transportation
The arguments for network neutrality somewhat mirror those in transportation regarding free and toll roads.
For example, the New Jersey Turnpike charges every truck in a certain class/category the same toll for traversing the same distance; and that makes sense and clearly complies with common carrier principles and law.
It would be discriminatory (say the advocates of network neutrality) to extort a higher toll for a truck carrying a cargo of gold bars as opposed to another truck, of the same weight, that carried garbage. Proponents of Network Neutrality would assert that the same kind of "common carrier" principle has historically applied to the internet.
Verizon's CEO has argued that Google should not get a free lunch when it uses Verizon's lines. However, Google is not initiating the transaction. Google is merely providing content through the "pipes" (highway) of the internet. Content providers like Google already pay fees to access the internet and those costs are already fully contingent upon how much data/bandwidth (weight) they transport.
End users/consumers of Google already pay their Internet Service Providers fees for access (flat rate unlimited or otherwise) to all web content. Proponents of Network Neutrality would argue that it is Verizon that is after the "free lunch" by lobbying Congress to change the rules so that they would have the "freedom" under law to charge whatever the market (Google and/or the consumer) might bear for particular kinds of content.
Another angle on the Common Carrier argument would be one in which the Turnpike was in the business of transporting gold and therefor refused to allow competing carriers to use their road (pipes) or, forced the competitor to travel at slower speeds.

Unlike the folks who were, no doubt, extremely well paid to compose and produce the ad in question; my efforts here are a labor of love.

Given that there will soon be a Senate vote on the bill I believe it's time to truly start "making up our own minds" and taking/renewing stands on this issue.

What say you?

Poll

Are you in favor of Net Neutrality?

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Tags: Money in Politics, Truth in Advertising, net neutrality, (All Tags)

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Please Pay Attention To This Ad | 10 comments

we're well aware of the ad (0.00 / 0)

(there is one on each side of the page)

We're happy to take their money while we point out their lies. We've done it before and we'll do it again. Running an ad does not mean we agree or disagree with its content nor does it guarantee the advertiser that we will not be critical of them.

by: Juan Melli @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 23:52:42 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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one other thing (0.00 / 0)

This site costs money to run. Since we started back in September, we've had over $1000 in expenses and those expenses. If we some day become independently funded, we won't have to run ANY ads. Until that day comes (if it ever does), we'll continue to run ads, so long as they're not racist, bigoted or otherwise deemed inappropriate. If you're filthy rich, feel free to follow the paypal link in the left hand column and drop us some coin.

by: Juan Melli @ Fri Jun 16, 2006 at 00:03:18 AM UTC

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Indeed (0.00 / 0)

Verizon's fake group is advertising on just about all of the liberal blogs. Bluejersey is no different here, and I applaud bluejersey and the other blogs too for speaking up for what they believe is right without censorship; meeting expenses with ads is entirely appropriate in my view.

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

by: Hopeful @ Fri Jun 16, 2006 at 00:28:07 AM UTC

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ps (0.00 / 0)

I also applaud the diarist for calling attention to this. It is important to speak against this. According to TPM's list of senate positions on net neutrality both of our senators have no position yet.

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

by: Hopeful @ Fri Jun 16, 2006 at 00:32:02 AM UTC

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our senators (0.00 / 0)

Someone earlier noted that they called Lautenberg's office and he said he supported net neutrality. I expect Menendez will come out with a position soon. Harry Reid has said he won't support any legislation that doesn't include provisions to protect net neutrality, and I hope both of our Senators follow his lead.

by: Juan Melli @ Fri Jun 16, 2006 at 00:52:22 AM UTC

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I hope Harry Reid... (0.00 / 0)

Does not shrink from showing some "inside fighting" to those senators who are now, as Josh Marshall calls them "Finger in The Wind". It is my opinion that these waffling senators may well be waffling to see how they can monitize this vote and how many free dinners and perks they can pry out of lobbiests.

Damn...I hate that crap.

The nom de plume has a long and distinguished history.

by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf @ Fri Jun 16, 2006 at 01:33:39 AM UTC

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waffling? (0.00 / 0)

How does "haven't announced a position" equate to "waffling," exactly? I'm a big fan of Marshall and TPM, but I think his "finger in the wind" language is flawed at best on this issue.

by: Scott Shields @ Fri Jun 16, 2006 at 02:57:54 AM UTC

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That someone was me (0.00 / 0)

You folks had better get on the horn with Menenendez PDQ, because when I spoke with his office, he was still on the fence. That tells me he has a nice pile of telecom cash in his pocket and he's not going to vote for an unfettered internet unless he'd pay a price at the polls for not doing so.

by: brilliantatbreakfast @ Fri Jun 16, 2006 at 01:35:38 AM UTC

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Only $1000.00? (4.00 / 1)

You've done an amazing job on a shoestring.

If this was a corporate project it would have probably cost 50 times that...a federal government project; another 50 grand minimum.

I'll bet the total dollar volume telcos spent on lobbying, advertising and PR on this issue is in the tens of millions. Yet their best shot can't stand up to any seriously informed scrutiny. It's nothing more than a blatant power/money grab. Period.

This attempt to hijack the internet will fail one way or the other. Even if they manage to sneak it through in some disguised manner; it'll only stir up more angry hornets as more and more people actually come to understand what's been done.

I'm still waiting to hear from someone who saw the ad/movie and was convinced by it. Or better yet, someone from Verizon with the chops to publicly defend their policy in free and open public debate.

by: Nick Lento @ Fri Jun 16, 2006 at 04:36:06 AM UTC

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Take the Money and Run With It (4.00 / 1)

No criticism of BluJersey intended; on the contrary, I hope everyone who visits the site does indeed click on your link (which is copied in my post) so that the site may get credit for the views.

My point is that, even with such a well produced glitzy campaign that is, I'm sure, put together by highly paid pros...their "arguments" still don't hold water.

I would love to see the people who put the ad together come here and defend it.

I watched the recent Senate hearing and the Dems still don't seem to really understand the issue. They kept on letting the Republicans get away with the claim that there was no clear definition of net neutrality.

Chairman Stevens actually went so far as to say out loud that he was against "common carrier" status.

The Democrats have a 100% righteous/winning issue here and they still seem cowed and respectful. They should be attacking this with gusto, and all I see so far is a grudging response to massive pressure.

I was at the Take Back America conference the past three days, lots of great stuff. Though my conclusion is that we progressives really need to take back the Party first.

by: Nick Lento @ Fri Jun 16, 2006 at 03:36:28 AM UTC

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Please Pay Attention To This Ad | 10 comments