Amidst all the rancor that we’ve seen during the last few weeks over the Federal Communications Commission’s proposed net neutrality rules comes a joint filing by Verizon and Google that asks a refreshing question. What do the antagonists have in common regarding this vexing problem?
It makes sense that Google and Verizon would try this out. As Ars readers know, they don’t just « rely on each other, » they’re business partners now, not just in offering the Droid smartphone on Verizon’s network, but in Google’s online phone store, as well. « We believe that we need a policy that will ensure openness and preserve the essential character of the Internet as a global, interconnected network of networks and users that is thriving based on a common set of core values, » their statement explains.
Does this mean that The War is over? Hot partisans on any side of the Internet non-discrimination debate need not worry about that. Both companies have also filed individual statements with the FCC that offer very different takes on the issue.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2010/01/verizon-and-google-draft-net-neutrality-peace-treaty.ars