NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Playing Hardball Against Net Neutrality (Part II)
In yesterday's message on this topic ( http://bit.ly/7BKLP9 ), I noted two of the techniques popular with the well-funded opponents of Net Neutrality: "The Big Lie" and "Divide and Conquer." And I suggested that pro-neutrality forces were not "playing the game" effectively against the heavyweight lobbying elements that have now been drawn into these issues by those who view net neutrality as a threat to their profit centers (consumer rights be damned). This naturally brings up a question. Does "playing the game" require using the same sorts of underhanded tactics? My view is that it does not. On the other hand, it's clear that the forces opposed to Net Neutrality and related pro-consumer changes for the Internet have been counting on pro-neutrality elements "not having the stomach" for a real fight in key respects. They frequently attempt to pigeonhole neutrality proponents as out-of-touch techies who just don't understand what's really going on, much in the manner of: "Go play with your tweets and Google Doodles and leave the running of *our* Internet to us." Or, as a high-placed telecom exec once told me, "You geeks and hackers don't have a chance against us." It is possible to maintain ethical integrity while not taking that sort of carefully planned adversarial marginalization sitting down (or bending over: http://bit.ly/7Ski6a [YouTube]). But it requires will, resources, and a thick skin. And it also requires a realization that this "game" isn't only about many billions of dollars. It's also directly concerned with the basic rights of consumers to communicate without fear that their Internet usage will be hindered, spied upon, unreasonably manipulated, altered, or otherwise subverted to serve the monetary interests of their Internet access service providers -- who after all completely control every aspect of the only access paths to the broader Internet for the vast majority of consumers. --Lauren-- NNSquad Moderator