AARP, others throw their weight behind network neutrality

Seems the AARP is believes that Network Neutrality is in their members best interest according to this article from Ars Technica.

AARP, others throw their weight behind network neutrality

3/17/2006 3:30:26 PM, by Eric Bangeman

Sometimes the Internet makes for unlikely bedfellows. The ongoing debate over network neutrality and the possibility of a tiered Internet provides a perfect illustration of this. In the continuation of a push on Capitol Hill for legislation that would make network neutrality a matter of law, the American Association of Retired Persons has joined companies including Adobe, Sony, and the Business Software Alliance in the fight against a tiered Internet.

Over the past couple of months, telecom executives have floated the idea that there should be tiers of traffic on their networks, with preferred content (e.g., their paying partners and their own) getting priority over traffic from the rest of the Internet. AT&T CEO Ed Whitacre even went so far as to make the ludicrous claim that customers aren't paying for Internet access, just access to the Internet "cloud."

A sorely needed rewrite of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 originally included a provision guaranteeing network neutrality, but subsequent versions of the legislation have seen that provision disappear from the bill. That is due in no small part from the lobbying of the biggest proponent of the tiered Internet, the increasingly massive AT&T and Verizon, along with Cisco, which stands to make millions of dollars selling new routers and other equipment to direct the flow of traffic through a tiered network. Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, is on record as saying that while he favors network neutrality in principle, he's not convinced of the need to enshrine it in legislation.

Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced separate network neutrality legislation earlier this month, and the AARP and other companies appear to be throwing their marketing weight behind the bill. The AARP is regularly near the top of the list of most influential and highest-spending special interest groups, so the fact that the organization has taken an interest in the issue may catch the attention of US lawmakers.

An AARP spokesperson said that maintaining network neutrality is essential for its constituency of Americans over age 50.

"We're not traditionally someone who would be involved in technology legislation and things of that nature, but this has a direct impact on our members and their lifestyles," said AARP spokesman Mark Kitchens.

Indeed, the possibility of a tiered Internet poses a threat to surfers of all ages, not to mention companies that find themselves on the outside looking in at the ISP's top tier.

It looks as though the battle lines are being drawn. On one side is a handful of ISPs and Cisco with just about everybody else on the other. Hopefully the lobbying might of groups such as the AARP will help ensure that the principle of network neutrality will win the day.

>JjV<
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Death: To stop sinning suddenly.

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