Google-Verizon alliance: Hero or villain?

Earlier this month, Google and mobile phone giant Verizon made a joint policy announcement that they believe will safeguard the future of the internet, possibly at the expense of the all-important issue of net neutrality. The stated aim of this policy, which it is hoped will be considered by congress, is to ‘establish a new and enforceable prohibition against discrimination in wireline Internet services.”

Net neutrality aims to ensure that all internet applications and users are treated equally, without providers penalising or promoting one group over another. While the initial claims of the announcement seem to be in support of this, critics believe that the Google-Verizon proposals could open the door for net providers to give priority to certain online traffic.

The Google-Verizon axis has suggested treating fixed line services differently to wireless and some specialised content. It’s felt by many that this would essentially put an end to the ‘free internet’ which allowed Google to develop into its present form, replacing it instead with a two tier structure where users have to pay-to-play for faster downloads and premium content. The effect would ultimately be to turn the internet into a class-based society, rather than the non-hierarchical community it is seen as today.

However, there is the other side of the coin. Supporters of the proposals believe that it will bring the internet in-line with every other industry – from hotels to books, people pay premiums for better quality products. Why should the internet continue to be exempt from this they ask?

The proposals are now expected to be put before America’s Federal Communications Commission for consideration.