Comments on: When titans clash: Google vs. AT&T for America’s Internet future

By: FCC Wireless Auction: Google Wins, AT&T Wins, Americans Lose « Scholars and Rogues

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 01:24:07 +0000

[...] the FCC did not endorse Google’s call for complete “open access,” or the principle that the winner of the auction could sell the spectrum to other companies in order [...]

By: Google Love Could Mean More Bandwidth » WOW Technology Minute

Google Love Could Mean More Bandwidth » WOW Technology Minute — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 23:49:22 +0000

[...] When titans clash: Google vs. AT&T for America

By: Ian Welsh

Ian Welsh — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:05:48 +0000

‘Meaning emails, blog posts, video and audio streaming and telemedicine all will have to be treated the same. It only takes seconds to get emails now but when you have emails competing with audio and video content, it could take hours, perhaps days to get a simple email.”

Uhuh. Doubt it. But if so, think the Bells might want to discuss all the money they took to expand the network – then never did?

But if the telecoms don’t think they can manage to handle the the public spectrum in a way that makes it work there’s always a solution to that.

I don’t think they’d like that solution.

But then the spectrum isn’t theirs anyway, is it?

By: Sam Smith

Sam Smith — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:11:50 +0000

Just a reminder to everybody – our HandsOff friends here are an astroturf group backed by AT&T (and I think Verizon – and probably more big telco types). If they’d like to join the discussion that’s cool – I used to work for a telco myself – in PR, no less – and am more than happy to include their perspective. But they will NOT be allowed to pretend they’re something they aren’t in the process.

By: HandsOff

HandsOff — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:43:30 +0000

I worry that government imposed regulations will only prevent us from catching up to other countries’ broadband service. Google will soon realize that they need a robust network to get all its content to consumers. If all content must be treated equally, it will be treated equally in a way that will hamper user experience. Meaning emails, blog posts, video and audio streaming and telemedicine all will have to be treated the same. It only takes seconds to get emails now but when you have emails competing with audio and video content, it could take hours, perhaps days to get a simple email.

HandsOff
With Hands Off the Internet.

By: Martin

Martin — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 21:30:42 +0000

Sam,

Given the current cash-strapped state of our federal government thanks to the Iraq atrocity, you think they could turn down almost $5 billion? Even in cozy patronage situations like the FCC and the telecoms, money trumps influence.

Denny,

That’s why I do it, man. The Internet belongs to all of us, and it is criminal that people are denied access simply because of where they live.

By: Dr. Denny

Dr. Denny — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 20:47:47 +0000

Martin,

Thank you. As a rural, residential non-customer of any major Internet service, I await consumer-friendly developments.

I may wait a looooonng time, but I’m waiting.

Denny

By: Sam Smith

Sam Smith — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:09:59 +0000

Of course, as wonderful as this all is, the FCC might as well have “a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T” on its logo. The question is whether the money Google is offering up is enough to make it hard for the FCC to do the wrong thing.

By: University Update - Verizon - When Titans Clash: Google Vs. AT&T For America

University Update - Verizon - When Titans Clash: Google Vs. AT&T For America — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:58:14 +0000

[...] Link to Article verizon When Titans Clash: Google Vs. AT&T For America

By: Brian Angliss

Brian Angliss — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:43:18 +0000

Thanks for pointing this out, Martin – I’d seen the headlines about Google and the FCC and wireless spectrum, but hadn’t had a chance to dive into the details.

If the FCC buys into this, and if incumbents can’t afford the price tag to buy the spectrum out from under Google, then this has some interesting possibilities that I need to think through a little more (after I finish drinking my caffeine and mate’ wake-me-up).