Net Neutrality opposed by 34 big companies (and kitten gets crime award)

Good to see you back at IT Blogwatch, in which opposition to Net Neutrality rises to the top. Not to mention kitten gets crime award ...

There's talk on the blogosphere today about the possibility that some tech companies have vested interests in opposing Net Neutrality - really is anyone surprised at this? Starting with John Paczkowski: "Given their business, is it really all that surprising that outfits like 3M, Cisco, Corning and Qualcomm oppose network neutrality? ... I mean, really, can you imagine the windfall in new infrastructure spending for a company like Cisco if the telcos did manage to create a two-tiered Internet. Of course they're going to send a letter to Congress opposing new laws mandating Net neutrality. Which they did on Wednesday  ...  Oh yes, let's all come to a real understanding of the issues, shall we? I know I for one would love to hear an explanation for what happened to the $200 billion in tax cuts and other incentives the telecoms were given to roll out fiber to the home by 2006."

» Susan Crawford: "It's unfortunate that these manufacturers can't take the long view.  They can't because their shareholders want quick results, and because they need to sell more and more boxes all the time.  The long view might be that an open, innovative internet is ultimately good for society (all of those positive externalities) and good for the company -- because they'll be part of a more innovative world.  But that's too far off, and too speculative, their advisors will say."

»  Doug Isenberg: "Some of the largest hardware makers in the world, including 3M, Cisco, Corning and Qualcomm, sent a letter to Congress firmly opposing new laws mandating Net neutrality -- the concept that broadband providers must never favor some Web sites or Internet services over others. That view directly conflicts with what many software and Internet companies have been saying for the last few months."

» EdCone: "The Wall Street Journal runs a lead editorial today blasting the idea of network neutrality. It's not really a business story, or a tech story, but a scare story for political conservatives ... and the explanation that 'the cause of Net neutrality in its current incarnation become a new and ardent crusade of the political left.' ... original Web-master Tim Berners-Lee says net neutrality would protect: 'We may pay for a higher or a lower quality of service. We may pay for a service which has the characteristics of being good for video, or quality audio. But we each pay to connect to the Net, but no one can pay for exclusive access to me.' ...  Second day in a row that the WSJ has weighed in on the side of the telcos."

» Broadband reports: "Not a surprising move, considering these companies stand to profit from intelligent networks and the implementation of QoS tariffs on content providers. Check out a recent whitepaper (pdf) by Cisco that explores their desire to turn the Internet from 'basic highway' into a 'Personalized Toll Way.' [Sounds familiar, roadways have become tollways!]  ... A new bi-partisan net-neutrality law was introduced in the House, while Senator Hillary Clinton plans to throw her support behind another."

» Art Brodsky on more bills related to Net Neutrality: "It was quite the news day for Net Neutrality. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Sensenbrenner and senior Democrat Conyers introduced a real Net Neutrality bill. 'The bill squarely addresses the issue of the enormous market power of the telephone and cable companies as the providers of 98 percent of the broadband service in the country. The bill restores the principle of non-discrimination that allowed the Internet to flourish in the dial-up era, making certain that the same freedom and innovation will flourish in the broadband era without burdensome regulation.' [statement by Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge]. A copy of the bill is available here."

Buffer overflow:

    Around the Net

• Gizmodo: Apple quitely releases firmware update for MacBook Pro
• James Kendrick: Preview of the Sony UX50 now available
• Ken Fisher: Skype's Net Neutrality gamble: we'll be so big they can't stop us
• Marc Perton: Pioneer BDR-101A Blu-ray burner now available, for just $999
• Danese Cooper: What Sun Doesn't Want You To Know About Java and Open Source
• Doug Isenberg:  Amid Copyright Concerns, Cerf Promotes Google's Book Plan
• Pete Cashmore: YahooTube - Yahoo Developing a YouTube Rival
• Michael Santo: It's official - AMD in Dell Servers by End of Year

    Around Computerworld

• Mitch Betts: Got a Software Project in deep, deep trouble?
• Jerri Ledford: Enterprise search is not without faults
• Shark Tank: Who knew you could build an empire out of SOX?
• Martin McKeay: Windows Live Search Beta coming, what will the security concerns be?
• Douglas Schweitzer: Port workers may have to pay up!

And finally...  Kitten gets crime award ... I thought everything went to the dogs!

Richi Jennings is an independent technology and marketing consultant, specializing in email, blogging, Linux, and computer security. A 20 year, cross-functional IT veteran, he is also an analyst at Ferris Research. Contact Richi at blogwatch@richi.co.uk. Also contributing to today's post (almost all my work and last one yippeee): Judi Dey, our very own Antipodean.