Re: Net Neutrality: A Radical Form of Non-Discrimination by Hal Singer

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

{editors comments -- I know Bob Crandall and think a lot of him. I also can not personally verify the "facts" stated 
below. I also think Connect Kentucky has dome a good job in the rural areas at least.

It is always nice for authors to statetheir possible conflicts so one can take them into consideration -- they almost 
never do.

Dave}
________________________________________
From: Bruce Kushnick [bruce () newnetworks com]
Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2008 8:20 PM
To: David Farber
Subject: RE: [IP] Re:   Net Neutrality: A Radical Form of Non-Discrimination by Hal Singer

First, about the authors, HAL J. SINGER and bob Crandall --- Criterion
Economics, LLC

Criterion Economics is a stink tank -- AT&T and Verizon et al are their
clients. but here's some of the research we compiled for Harvard Nieman
about corporate-funded stink tanks.

Harvard Nieman:
http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=background.view&backgroun
did=00208
Corporate-funded research designed to influence public policy, October 01,
2007 ---"Reports by well-known think tanks and individuals funded by
telecoms are helping quash competition, increase phone rates and set up a
corporate-oriented Internet system. Is there any reason to trust these
reports? Or to trust experts who testify before regulators without revealing
the sources of their funding?"

Criterion Economics is a consulting firm. Its clients include: AT&T, Bell
Canada, BellSouth, CTIA-The Wireless Association, Qwest Communications, SBC,
Verizon, Verizon Wireless, Vodafone.
.   http://www.criterioneconomics.com/who/

They are simply defending allowing a vertically integrated monopoly of
wireline services --local, long distance, DSL (broadband, ISP (connection to
the internet) as one service that the telcos control and so they can do
whatever they want with any 'traffic' over any piece of their pipes.

Their articles are corporate-funded slush.

As bob Frankston writes, "This is akin to arguing that monopolies are far
more efficient because they can provide guarantees that you can't make if
you had to compete."

Ever since a regulatory agency, the FCC, created anything upgraded as an
"interstate information service", and no longer common carriage with
telecommunication obligations to NOT open degrade or filter the
communications, Telco stink tanks will attempt to create data to support
their clients.

I don't know how much money Criterion received, but it is clear that with
the help of the other 'lobbying' and astroturf groups, like New Millennium
Research Council, etc, they will be able to put one over on the regulators
and have their voice heard, not the public interest.

Another recent example is the recent FCC broadband report, which quotes the
Phoenix Center and Connect Kentucky as sources of why America is not really
15th in the world in broadband and the OCED broadband stats are wrong.

Bruce.





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