AT&T vs. Google
There are many facets to the ongoing Net neutrality debate. Recently, AT&T sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission claiming Google was in violation of the agency’s Net neutrality principles, which oddly enough, they have always been in favor for. Richard Whilt, Google’s telecommunications lawyer, responded via blog to defend Google’s position. AT&T alleges that
Google is violating the fourth principle in the FCC’s Internet Policy Statements, which calls for fair competition among providers of networks, applications, services, and content, as it blocks telephone calls made using Google Voice service to certain rural communities.
AT&T’s senior vice president also goes on to accuse Google of violating the fifth principle of nondiscrimination which Google adamantly supports.
Google argues plainly that the rules that apply to traditional phone companies should not apply to Google. Particularly the rule in which
AT&T and other traditional phone companies are prohibited from blocking phone calls to any number because they must abide by common carrier laws, which require infrastructure providers, such as phone companies, to allow anyone who wants to use their networks access to the “public” infrastructure. The concept of a common carrier is supposed to ensure that the public retains access to fundamental services that use public rights of way, such as telephone service or roadways. “
Google asserts these rules don’t apply to them for a number of reasons. One being that the application runs on a infrastructure built by many other companies. Google Voice is also a free service. There was no intention by Google for the software to be a replacement for phone service and to register users must have a landline or wireless phone.
AT&T is trying to lump net neutrality into telephone services rules. Whereas, Google points out that the “FCC’s open internet principles apply only to the behavior of broadband carriers – not the creators of Web based software applications.” With this reaction from AT&T, we can only assume that their motivations are out of fear that Google could become a competitor and greed. This is the beginning of a long and arduous battle over control. I look forward to the FCC’s response.
